Good to have you back Ian, you had a few of us worried there, that our
Christmas was gonna be disrupted and like Charlie, we,ed have to dig out
them dark suits.
Dont worry about us being embarrassed about kitty Ian, we,ll cope. 
mappo:
Good to have you back Ian, you had a few of us worried there, that our
Christmas was gonna be disrupted and like Charlie, we,ed have to dig out
them dark suits.
Dont worry about us being embarrassed about kitty Ian, we,ll cope.
Bit of a result re the suit.Its gone on ebay and I’ve got £1.65 more than I paid for it.Happy Days. 
About the kitty.Slight problem there.I invested the entire whip round in the 2.30 at haydock and guess what? Yes ,it fell at the third! How did you know I was going to say that? Anyway its only money I’m glad that Ian is back on the road to good health.He’s freed up a bed for a really ill person 
Glad you made it Ian good news indeed. Unfortunately the news from
Charlie re the widows fund isn’t so good. However I’m sure the landlord
will understand when I explain where the rent went! Still not to worry eh! 
So you’re off to Spain soon eh? That means the Micheldever shed will
be empty eh? Could you be a little more specific with your leaving and
returning dates mate? 
Kind Regards GAZ
I have just been looking at the last page of Long departed Southampton hauliers and I see that Rod Redgrave and I have been put into the same slot as to being not over liberal with our hard earned cash.As it happens I knew Rod quite well in the winter he would wear a scarf and would put you in mind of a university graduate and he never went for dinner but allways supper we have spent many a good supper en route to both Spain and Italia he used to have a white Transcon I think. I seem to remeber him and Micky Leech having a very special week actually thinking more carefully I wont take that any further. Talking about being carefull with my money I remember being with Snowy on Patricks in a restaurant just by the Napoli peage we both complained about the differnce in price of the strawberries as desert for the Italien drivers and what we were charged.We refused to pay and when the owner told us he would call the polzia we told him with a large amount of Bravado and vechia romagna that he could call who he liked as we were off and we swept out of the door of the restaurant and into our trucks ready to drive off.We then remembered the reason why we went there in the first place the place had electric gates contolled from inside.
He didnt call the police but would not let us out until we had paid a very inflated price for the strawberries.
How about a view of some of the customs we used to visit being R 
awlings I will start with Vicenza if you wernt in the compound you didnt get cleared space for approx 40 motors and 70 trying to get in. A few more Sommacompagna, Aosta, Torino,Busto Arzisio,Vipatino coming in via the Brenner Trento,Merano,a really good one at Modena Campogalliano,Pescara where you sat by the dock and watched the world go by not really wanting to clear at all. In my opinon one of the worst San Lorenzo in Rome where at 8 every morning that part of Rome would come to a standstill as lorries straddled the road all trying to again get in the compound sometimes never coming out.
Lets have a few more to get the old grey matter working.On another tack what was the name of the big Paris company that used to do both europe and the middleast back in the seventies.I remember being held at Mont Blanc for a couple of days when they went on strike and blocked the tunnel.They had orange Volvo 89s amongst other things,
Was it Calbersons by any chance?
No Charlie not Calberson
I do remember around the time of the strike they went bust somebody will remeber
Youv’e upset me now Ian.Thought I was up for the prize.Hows about the old Dogna Centrali at Verona.I really liked clearing there.Nice showers and a short stroll to a good ristoranti.Good nights sleep.Happy days
How about Genova where you entered via a tight turn in a low tunnel.
Como Montano Lucino, Bergamo where I got locked in one night and
consequently nearly shot, 
Rho, Cremona and the one I can’t
remember between Novara and Milan where you had to park up in
the morning 'till the kids were in school? (just remembered Turbigo) Oh and Docks Piemontese
Turin where they had the dirtiest spread axle bogs I have ever seen!!!
Regards GAZ
How about Rogerado?
Regards Pat
Yeah ought to remember Rogeredo dropped many a trailer there
on ‘Jamies’ and used to meet up with all the STS lads clearing their
tv’s!
Regards GAZ
Ive remembered !!! the French haulier who’s drivers blocked the Blanc was Stouff not sure of the spelling who rememers them
traniht:
Ive remembered !!! the French haulier who’s drivers blocked the Blanc was Stouff not sure of the spelling who rememers them
I didn’t know Stouff were Paris based. I thought they came from somewhere on the old road to Monte Bianco.Wasn’t Nantua was it? Me minds gone a complete blank.Help me out.
Charlie I am probably talking nonsense and I am sure somebody will point it out.
But I am fairly certain they had75 or 78 regs I’m pretty sure they wernt from Nantua that would have been 73 or 74
Could someone please put me and my mate Charlie out of our misery I have an excuse the anaesthetic is still wearing off whats yours Charlie
Ian,You talk rubbish Never!! All I can remember about Stouff were they had a few Brits working for them.And the colour of course.Hospitals must be catching.I’m going into Haslar at Gosport on the 18th to have a new.Shoulder joint welded on.Too many years gear jamming.You thought I was going to say pudding pulling.Not me pal.Looking forward to getting it done as its starting to annoy me. Hope you are continuing to improve Best regards Chatlie. PS.Were they from Paris?
Look you couple of old codgers,this topic is in danger of getting
clogged with body parts and exploded grey matter so I’ll put you both
out of your cerebral malfunctions and tell you it was Annemasse
Kindest Regards GAZ
GAZ IOW:
Look you couple of old codgers,this topic is in danger of getting
clogged with body parts and exploded grey matter so I’ll put you both
out of your cerebral malfunctions and tell you it was AnnemasseKindest Regards GAZ
Just testing Gary.I wondered how long it would take you to suss it out.Well done nipper.Prize is on its way
traniht:
Ive remembered !!! the French haulier who’s drivers blocked the Blanc was Stouff not sure of the spelling who rememers them
Spot on with company and spelling ‘tranhit’ .
Ran a fleet of ‘A’ framed wagon and drags. Were one of the biggest private hauliers in France and also one of the first and biggest hauliers to do middle eastern countries. At one time was not possible to go anywhere in France without passing a Stouff truck.
Hi All
I went to Alan Baulch’s funeral today in Lindford and had a good chat to Alan Tumbler he was recalling his days driving for Ron Blackman, whose son Keith and wife Margaret were also there, I could not believe that it is over 20 years since Ron died.
Another old name was there Richard East brother of the late Dave East.
Many people at the funeral and he had a good send off, one bouquet of flowers was in the shape of a unit and trailer and can be seen on the coffin in the hearse carriage which was pulled by 2 magnificent black horses!
Regards Pat
traniht:
Ive remembered !!! the French haulier who’s drivers blocked the Blanc was Stouff not sure of the spelling who rememers them
This,ll be them then. Pic came from Toprun site i think.
Mappo thanks for the photo yes thats them and with a 74 reg High Savoie so were I got the Paris thing from I dont know.Obviously old Gaz from the Island is brighter than he ever looked 
No offence Gaz.
Thanks Pat for the info of the funeral I remember Tumbler quite well he was there with Brian Smith and they both drove early Roadtrains I think.Im sorry to say I didnt know Alan Baulch but I would like to send his family my condolences.I do remember the East bros had a bit of a reputation way way back seem to remember that Jim Rawlings and them used to save cornflake packs so as to make their own Italien Permits