very sad to hear of your health issues , but maybe your doctor from the east is offering/barking good advice , none of us are getting any younger and when the time comes ( in your case now )ease off and enjoy the time left to us . on the brighter side maybe we can look forward to many more of your writings . take good care of yourself , regards , dave
Hi John,
Sorry to hear of your problems, but sounds as if you are still positive and also keeping active, even if its not as much as previously.
Be good to hear of your adventures in Europe etc.
Cheers Dave.
Hiya,
John, none of us like slowing down and when it becomes “forced medicine” it does
become a bitter pill to swallow, but at least you sound you’re usually witty self
and we eagerly await many more of you’re European and home ground exploits it
is a must you keep us occupied with you’re most interesting “stuff” I do look in on a
regular basis to see if anything new has been added to “Saviem’s fan club”.
thanks harry, long retired.
Hello John, very sorry to learn that you’re not your old self at the moment, but I’m sure that you will come through this. There does come a time when we all have to slow down a bit, but as one door closes another one opens. Please keep us entertained and informed with your vast knowledge and experience, and you know where we are if there is anything we can do for you.
From the continent, we wish you a better health and hope you could write more about your experience as we can notice memories are still there!
Hi John…Slowing down comes to all of us as we get older, I’ve had to sell my sports bike for a sit up and beg jobbie, oh the pain …Still, you’ll feel the benefits I’m sure, be like retirement all over again for you…, and for us here on T/N we hope to hear more from you about the French haulage industry… 
Hi John,
So sorry to hear of your fall,I know how hard that A449 can be, as a lad doing our school cross country runs at Dunstall Park 
My best wishes for a speedy recovery,and please keep on entertaining us all with your vast knowledge.
If you are ever down in the New Forest area please drop in for a glass of Bollinger 
Kind regards
Richard
Saviem it is good to here from you and I do hope you have a speedy recovery, many followers of your antics over the years recalled on TNUK will surely agree we have missed your inputs in recent times. It is hard to be told to slow down but suppose it is inevitable.
You talking of sliding on tarmac reminded me of the time in 1966 when I was the proud owner of a Triumph Thunderbird (could not afford a Bonneville) any way I had waited two weeks for a new gearbox sprocket to arrive and when duly fitted first outing with bird perched on pillion was from a café in Fordingbridge along the twisty main road to Ringwood, lovely swooping bends just made for motorcycling but when young and stupid you push to far and on the last bend disaster, went down on its side and spun on the black stuff for 40 odd yards, all I recall was the bird going on about her back and my retort was sod that look at my bike. Of course I suffered further when I ended up in court got 3 points and banned for three months for riding a motor cycle in a manner dangerous
Any ways bit more time for the old Bollinger now and can have it a bit earlier in the day too ! ! Buzzer.
Evening Gentlemen,
Thank you all for your kind comments and pm`s, they are really appreciated, thank you all.
Now as a young man I persued, (without any vestage of success), the career as a Watchmakers Apprentice, @30 bob a week, less any damage that I could have caused to clients Horological equipment…and of course this I did.
Day dreaming was my downfall, and a love of anything mechanical, and particularly on two wheels…(and of course the opposite ■■■)!
One of my remits was to travel to clients houses when, (unwisely), they had succomed to the advances of one of our , (slippy), salesmen, and purchased an eight day self winding clock.
You may remember these fiendish time pieces…a shaped glass dome…(the taller, the more cash that the client had been relieved of)! And a mechanism straight from Dantes Inferno…four, (or five, in the case of the real “barstewards”), gold coloured spheres, that revolved clockwise, then counter clockwise, surmounted by a “leggy” plastic Ballarena, in a tu tu of various quality…dependent again upon price. The client could watch in awe at the revolutions of their Ballarena on the mantle piece…(the universal mode of residence for such time pieces), whilst the hours ticked by…after all the TVs were miniscule…as were the programmes…
The success, or lack of accurate timekeeping for the clock was really down to how accurate the installer…(me)…was in making sure that said timepiece was perfectly level, in both horizontal, and vertical plane.
To facilitate travel to the clients residence I could have two options…Public Transport, on one of Wolverhampton Corporation Transports Sunbeam Trolley Buses, or perhaps a Guy Arab, if the location was remote…OR…I could use my own transport…For which at the weeks end I could provie a signed “chit” for 2 shillings…to be placed in the safe, as the two bob was handed to me by my ,(rather superior), manager.
Now these timepieces were by nature “moy fragile”, and riding either on the petrol tank, or strapped to the pillion seat, was never ever a problem…while I had a BSA C11G, …or even my Velocette Valiant…but when the dreaded test was passed… an Ariel VB sidevalve 600, an ES2 Norton,(modified on my modest, (and it was modest), income to look like a Manx Norton…Then came the BSA Twins, the Triumph Trophy, a couple of 500 Dominators, (all it has to be said of indifferent quality, …I was on a budget)…I prefer to think of them as Ladies who had fallen on hard times!!!
But I was on a high…remarkably, there were never any complaints , the clocks all worked perfectly,…(mind you I bet none of the clients realised just how much Wrigleys Chewing Gum was placed, (with great care, and in total secrecy), to aid the level of their time piece, on some rather expensive mantlepieces!
My fame spread, and soon I was travelling to the remote regions of Solihull, and Sutton Coldfield, as I was requested by the Branch at Walsall to assist in rectifying the recalcitrant habits of the fiendish devices…and the two bob…became five…boy was I in the money!
Untill one day, on my “new” 500cc BSA Gold Star…rearsets, clip ons, a chrome tank you could see a mile away, and a stone guard over the headlight…RRT2 box, (those of you who know motorcycles will know where this is going)…and a £10 8 day clock in its feeble cardboard box held tight to the seat behind me with two elastic straps…pulling down so tight that the box resembled a toothpaste tube!
Of course riding such a potent piece of machinery I could only travel out of the Town Centre, along the The A41 Tettenhall Road, I could only travel at maximum speed…ably assisted by the frightening velocity afforded by the RRT2s stupendously high first gear…2nd you could break the current national speed limit…
On arrival at the clients swish, newly jerry built pile, I was at some loss to discover the two elastic straps…a piece of card board…and nothing else on the pillion!!!
So red faced, it was back along the route that I had taken, as slow as I could ride…(those of you who know Gold Stars will know just how impossible that task was to prove)!..I retrieved a leg, part of the clock mechanism, some balls…(no not all)…and a smashed glass dome…(probably run over by one of Sealand and Districts 40x8 equipped Leyland Octopus 8 wheelers hell bent on getting to Shotton before they had set out!!
And what of Mr “Hot Shot”, …I worked for one month without pay to pay back the loss to the Company…and my Balls never ran as free again!!
I think a Bollinger is called for, to reflect upon my disasters…(and there have been many)
Cheerio for now…
Thank goodness you’re back, mon brave! I was beginning to think that you would be discovered in an emaciated state lying under one of that nice Mister Deere’s machines surrounded by a mountain of muddy, rotting Maris vegetables.
So, a second shot at retirement beckons, eh? Grab it with both hands (you’ll have to use both hands, given that arthritis creeps up on us with age) and please, please do try to slow down a bit. You don’t have to prove how you can still do things as fast- or as often!- as you did fifty years ago. And if I may make so bold, could I suggest that you take your time with that greenhouse? “Her’s” been waiting long enough, another couple of months won’t matter. And if you’re intent on using your nut to destroy the local road system, could I request that you wait until I have passed through your area at the end of May? I don’t think my French voiture (can’t remember the French for “van”) will take too many more potholes.
Seriously- there’s a change- we’re so glad you’re back with us to regale us with your memories of yesteryear. Just maybe you’ll now manage to grow a few “proper” spuds for your own use? Let me know if you need any tips on growing decent veg.
Once again, welcome back and please do look after yourself.
Ahhh, the master returns…
I remember my uncle Billy having one of those exotic clocks and he was a man of a somewhat fastidious nature. As a child I was very wary of going anywhere near his damned clock on his sideboard in case I upset it. Uncle Billy had a small spirit level which lived permanently on top of the clock casing to check that it was dead level. In my odds and sods tray at home I still have the spirit level which I kept when I cleared his house after his death in 1980. As for the clock… well I think that went into the dustbin
After thinking about it all day today while installing a new water storage system at th’allotment, it suddenly came to me that the French word for “van” is camionette.
I think!
And the posh new water storage system consists mainly of a 1,000litre IBC liberated from a former customer some years ago. Never throw anything away- it’ll come in handy one day!
michel:
Now it’s published by Editions CANY.
Evening Gentlemen…
May I recommend the above book as a truly superb “read” about the Hauliers of the Lorraine Region of France.
It is researched, and written superbly. Unlike vehicle specific tones, the book examines individual Hauliers, their foundation, background, vehicles of choice, and families in great detail.
It is a very “human” book, full of real facts, and a great detail of information for those who would like to know just how well UK produced vehicles did in the French market.The photographs are superb
Beautifully written by our friend Michel, who has a distinguished career in France with the major importers, a gem of a book that has kept me enthralled for hours…And you do not have to be fluent in French to really enjoy this book…
Its a real Gem.........Editionscany@livre.fr
Tel, 03 26 57 63 80.
Treat yourselves, this is a gem!!!
Cheerio for now.
Retired Old ■■■■:
After thinking about it all day today while installing a new water storage system at th’allotment, it suddenly came to me that the French word for “van” is camionette.
I think!
And the posh new water storage system consists mainly of a 1,000litre IBC liberated from a former customer some years ago. Never throw anything away- it’ll come in handy one day!
Evening all, ROF, the best things that we have came “free”!
I`ve a set of “dogs”, (as my lady wife describes them)…
Those 4 wheel, plastic stillages, that the “Bread men”, transport their trays of bread from van, to shop…
Anyway, some years ago I purchased one of these vans, (not a good buy, ) , but the body was full of “dogs”…they are amazing at carrying quite heavy, (I`ve managed railway crossing sleepers), …for good ladys raised beds…even on uneven ground…
Only problem is they have no sort of directional steering…set of sleepers, behind a JD Gator can be, (and do), travel at 90 degrees. …pity about that fence…"Dog House " again…
Gosh Im getting past my sell by date…
Cheerio for now.
We’re all past our sell by date, John, but it doesn’t matter one little bit. I’ve gone through life thinking that I was a bit “odd” but since I’ve retired I’ve suddenly realised that it’s the rest of the world that’s odd- I’m really quite normal in comparison to some.
And I do apologise for forgetting the word “camionette”. I’ve set myself 500 virtual lines for this evening, “I must not forget the foreign language that they tried to teach me in the middle of the last century”.
And I think you will find that the plot gets more exciting if you double the length of the rope between the Gator & the dogs!
Hi John , I am sorry to hear of your misfortunes health wise but I hope you are recovering now, the big problem with old age is you do not bounce as well as you did when younger and seems to take far longer to recover.
The biggest problem which I find is the brain says you are able to do a task but the body refuses to comply anyway just take care of yourself and use your continental medicine to assist your recovery.
regards Johnnie
Sorry to hear your news John, although I hope it allows you more time to educate us and share your formidable knowledge of our beloved industry.
Dear old Saviem, I’ll not pontificate about what you should or shouldn’t do. However, your mind is still as sharp as razor blades, so you might enjoy sifting through all your old notes and diaries to bring some semblance of order to one or two of our more errant threads! I notice that you’ve already started on a couple - and quite right too. And for me… if you can cast your mind back to that Euro Test in 1975 and come up with any more little insights and nuggets about that ‘stonking hooligan of a lorry’ (yes, I quoted you in Lorries of Arabia: ERF NGC, rest assured! 
) I’d be eternally grateful as I’m already writing the sequel. Take care, Robert
Evening all,
Thank you all for your kind thoughts and comments, they really are appreciated.
Funny thing is Robert, I have actually started to try and put my old diaries and papers in order, plus loads of my old, (and mostly poor quality), pictures. I`ve all sorts of stuff,old log books from the 60s. Copies of bills for food and accommodation, when I was driving. Then rheams of paperwork and all sorts of odd bits from selling Atkinsons, (and anything else I could lay my hands on) , plus the same for Volvo, and of course the vast bulk concerns Saviem/Berliet/Mack right up to the late 80s. Plus all the “ancillary bits”, the bits about the competitors, the personal stuff, blooming crates of it!!
Some may be of interest, some may not. If its not of interest then Gentlemen, tell me…and I will go off down another branch line. I really do not wish to upset anyone, I find the beauty of these various threads is learning others experiences, and sharing “bits and bobs” with each other.
I do struggle with Internet access here, and despite the smooth words from numerous ISPs, the fact that we are at the end of the oldest run of copper cable from the village telephone exchange…and it only serves us…in the words of a pleasant Openreach engineer…“there is no chance ever of upgrading you”!!! …and the lane is B rough as well!..So I will persevere…
Another Tale from the Jewellry shop.
There are all sorts of little jobs that one might do to keep clients happy, and coming back for larger purchases…fit, or adjust a watch bracelet, replace a spring lug that retains a watch strap, clean, or polish some personally precious item, replace a watch hand, or clock hand, or ease a precious ring, that due to the owner putting on a few pounds of weight, had become a little tight to wear.
Now the owner of the Emporium that paid my wages ran what he called “The Cakebox”, actually a shoe box, with a slot cut in the lid, and retained below the cash register…(guarded by a female under manager of fearsome proportion, and ferocity).
When such a small job was done the person who carried out the procedure would charge a couple of bob, (shillings…is that now 10p)?..and the money would go into said box…not the till…and at the months end, the content would be shared out amongst the staff…minus the owners, (proportionally larger) cut.
Thus it came to pass that one sunny morning a lady of profound girth waddled into the shop…and as the sales staff were indulging in their Typhoo and Digestives, I had been called from the dark recess of my cell in the cellar where I endeavoured to reassemble the spread entrails of various pieces of Horological hardwear, to man the shop counter.
Said large lady explained that her Wedding Ring nolonger fitted easily, and could it be altered to fit? NoeNow there are two ways to accomplish said job. 1, send it to a workshop, (having of course taken the correct size), and a piece of Gold, (9,18, 22 k), would be inserted, the job priced, profit added, and the transaction completed.
Or,
2, the accurate measurement of the clients finger taken, by use of a ring gauge, (like a bunch of various sized washers), which you then placed over the clients finger until the correct size is arrived at). Then the ring is “eased” by means of a fiendish device comprising a cone, inscribed with the various ring sizes, (A,B,G, K, etc), on which the ring is dropped…and by means of a wheel connected to a handle one “eases” the ring into its new size, polish said ring, and return to the (delighted), client…Charge two bob, which goes straight into the "Cake Box…It must be obvious which was the “preferred” method.
Thus , having sent said large lady to have a cup of tea in WoolWorths, I ascended the stairs to the upper workshop, where said piece of equipment was located, and enjoying the warm sunlight streaming through the skylight began work…
But in reality I was on the Isle of Man, flicking my Norton Manx through those tricky curves ascending Glen Helen…the tail of Geoff Dukes Gilera tantalisingly close…suddenly my twistgrip went loose!!!
It really had, for my rollers handle had finally reached the end of its travel…and I no longer was in charge of a tight wedding ring…but a rather fine, (and very thin), childs bracelet!!!
I will draw a vale over the ensuing disasterous return of said large lady…my goodness a fully charging Rhino could not have been more fearsome…the rather “awkward” conversation with my employer…
But the following Monday, raining and miserable I was in sole charge of one of my Uncles aged, oh so gloriously aged little Fodens…and my life had really changed forever!!!
I must away to a little Bollinger…I can still see, (and hear), that Wolverhampton “lady”…perhaps not.
Cheerio for now.
It is to be hoped that you remembered that nasty little slick spot on the right-hander at Sarah’s, Saviem?