Never got an answer…But it is not an easy one…Spot lights…Eh Lad was not like that in my day 
They were piled on the side of the Road like Christmas Trees 
It must be a seasonal thing 
Reddesertfox:
Never got an answer…But it is not an easy one…Spot lights…Eh Lad was not like that in my day
They were piled on the side of the Road like Christmas Trees
So did the Arabs celebrate Christmas in the good old days ? . I remember a couple of lads telling me that if you had spot lights fitted when you arrived at The Saudi border then the soldiers would smash them with their rifle butts. Now was this a Mocamp myth or did it really happen ?.
I think that I have mentioned before that I once took over a column change M.A.N. from Old Billy ( Jock ) McDonald, Billy was into all electrical gadgets, C.B.'s, whoopie horns, fans, ect which he had all wired up himself but an electrician he was not. He had the spot light switch, the spot light brackets and the wires but no spot lights.
I was running with a guy called Ken Singleton ( R.I.P.) on one trip and he told me that one evening Ken and Billy were travelling from Bucherest to Pitesti in Rumania. Ken was leading and Billy was right up behind him with his spotlights on which was really getting on Kens nerves. When they eventually parked up side by side for the night Ken said that he gave Billy a rollocking for being so inconsiderate.
The next morning when they were both checking their oil they were both surprised to see that Billys spot lights were missing. It seemed that they had a visitor during the night and the pair of them hadn’t heard a sound or seen anything 
.
Hi Steve
Some Arabs do celebrate Christmas quietly in the more moderate Gulf States albeit no official day off, they see Islam as the third step and therefore if you do not believe in Judaism and Christianity you cannot be a Muslim. This is of course with the exception of Saudi where anything to do with Christmas is strictly forbidden.
Spots…I never personally had a problem with spots at the Saudi border, for me it was at Rafha, I believe Turaif was also a problem 
Hi NZ JAMIE, regarding your post on page 40 about Richard Snow and his 17 ton merc.
I can remember Mervyn King telling me about a conversation that he had with Bob Paul and Peter Canning in Astrans office. The subject had come round too what happens to a middle east driver as they get on in years and mervyn had quoted ■■■■ Snow as an example. At that time nobody could forsee an end to overland deliveries to the middle east and as ■■■■ was no longer in the prime of youth he was a perfect example. The outcome of the conversation was that they had not even thought about it. Bearing in mind that very few M/E drivers stayed anywhere near to their employers yard it would have been difficult to comute to work from eight to five each day given that they were even offered a job in the yard.
■■■■ later left Astrans employment after a dispute regarding a supposed fault with his truck. Several months later whilst in the total garage at Zeebrugge someone tapped me on the shoulder and low and behold it was ■■■■. He told me he was working for a chap in ipswich doing courier work and was branching out onto the continent i think he was on route to germany driving a transit, i met him on several occasions after that and the last time was at the Mobil garage on the A14 near newmarket where he was in the mercedes delivering the crockery around the uk. He was a keen ham radio operator and had a rig mounted between the seats of the merc in a wooden box so that it was out of site. Who would ever have thought that ■■■■ Snow with all the years of driving to and from the M/E would end up as happy as Larry driving in the uk with a four wheeler box van. R.I.P. ■■■■.
PS. He told me that he had phoned Fred Archer in Ipswich for a job and Fred had asked him if he had any experience and for proof to bring his passport when he went for an interview. So ■■■■ duly arrived at Freds office and emptied a carrier bag of ninteen passports on Freds desk and asked if that was enough experience for him. They did not hit it off so ■■■■ did not start with Fred. Regards Jamie.
A Scot Lost in the Valley’s
A Scot
According to an online newspaper, there could be much more work for the Middle East, President Blur and his cronies have been approached by a certain Labour benefactor to promote a large supermarket in the Gulf States. A spokesman for Tony Blair Associates refused to comment, except for saying with a wry smile. Every Little Helps 
Wheel Nut:
According to an online newspaper, there could be much more work for the Middle East, President Blur and his cronies have been approached by a certain Labour benefactor to promote a large supermarket in the Gulf States. A spokesman for Tony Blair Associates refused to comment, except for saying with a wry smile. Every Little Helps
It’s not Marks and Spencers is it Wheel Nut .
O.K., this weeks Old Grey Does It Really Matter Test is for Ron Davies or anybody else who might recognise it .
Regards Steve.
mushroomman:
Wheel Nut:
According to an online newspaper, there could be much more work for the Middle East, President Blur and his cronies have been approached by a certain Labour benefactor to promote a large supermarket in the Gulf States. A spokesman for Tony Blair Associates refused to comment, except for saying with a wry smile. Every Little HelpsIt’s not Marks and Spencers is it Wheel Nut
Regards Steve.
I think Marks and Spencer is already well represented although I often wondered how a bloke with close ties to Israel is accepted in the Arab world.
I spit on your support garments infidel
And now there is a new and cheaper threat to the lingerie market in Saudi Arabia, Buy one get one free Burkas,
Tesco’s Malc , let’s hope that the lads from Tesco’s at Middleton get the contract for running down there .
I can’t see Bagels replacing Egbek or was it Egmek ? but that reminds me of the post that somebody mentioned about the DORF on the FORD Transcontinentals a couple of days ago. I remember seeing a couple of Transcons in Turkey on their way further east in the eighties with the letters rearranged as well as some that had ■■■■■■■■ on the front. Somebody did mention that if you were wearing Marks and Spencers clothing when you were going to the Arab states in the 70’s then you had to remove the Saint Michael labels from them. Now surely this was a wind up , or was it 
or did anybody else hear about this one.
Regards Steve.
O.K., this weeks Old Grey Does It Really Matter Test is for Ron Davies or anybody else who might recognise it .
Regards Steve.
[/quote]
Hi Steve, looks like the Topkapi Palace, The Blue Mosque, & The Sofia Mosque in the background.
Dave.
I think Marks and Spencer is already well represented although I often wondered how a bloke with close ties to Israel is accepted in the Arab world.
I spit on your support garments infidel
And now there is a new and cheaper threat to the lingerie market in Saudi Arabia, Buy one get one free Burkas,
Wow…… how things change, M & S, Ford, Coca-Cola all with Jewish connections are now to be found in abundance within the Gulf States
Even in the old days some of the imported fruit from Jordan that was marked up product of the Lebanon actually originated from Israel. Checking the labels on your garments sounds like B.S. to me.
Wheel Nut:
According to an online newspaper, there could be much more work for the Middle East, President Blur and his cronies have been approached by a certain Labour benefactor to promote a large supermarket in the Gulf States. A spokesman for Tony Blair Associates refused to comment, except for saying with a wry smile. Every Little Helps
Hi Folks, back again after a couple of lazy weeks.
I bet Tony Blair was only really after the Double Tesco points on offer at the moment so the wife can get some chepo clothes ready for his next job.
I do 4 nights a week now for Tesco frozen at Crick and a trip from the Crick to Chepstow is far enough these days.
Must admit though a run to Muscat working on Tesco hours may result in a good pay-packet.
Would hate to think what there elf-n-safety rep might dream up though prior to a trip or what form the store route card may take.
Dave.
Laxy weeks Ashbarns You must have made too much money in the old days keeping those wheels rolling
Reddesertfox:
Laxy weeks Ashbarns
Hi Foxy.
I don’t think any of us ever made TO MUCH money but i do know it was NEVER enough for the wife, Bless her.
I do remember my mum used to slap me for wasting it though and my dad did give me the middle name of " Reuben " (although i never had it printed on my passport) maybe there is something to read between the lines.
Dave.
davemackie:
O.K., this weeks Old Grey Does It Really Matter Test is for Ron Davies or anybody else who might recognise it
Regards Steve.
Hi Steve, looks like the Topkapi Palace, The Blue Mosque, & The Sofia Mosque in the background.
Dave.
[/quote]
Well done Dave, that D.I.Y. holiday has certainly made you as sharp as a chisel .
I thought that Bestbooties or Ron Davies might of known this as I took this photo from Taci Kocmans office in June 1980, it’s a shame that the weather was not as bright as it usually was or then again the photo might of faded a bit. Does anybody know if Taci had another office before this one or if he did where was it ?.
Across the road from his office was where the Russian cruise liners berthed while they were visiting Istanbul after sailing around The Black Sea and The Med. If a driver shown his passport, which he was supposed to carry with him at all times then he could visit the duty free shops inside the docks and pick up some great bargains.
Reddesertfox:
Steve, what you say is correct, Istanbul is one of the worlds most fascinating and amazing cities, I once went over to Buyukada (Princess Islands) It seemed a better option than just swilling Efes all day in the Londra, sadly unlike you, I was not in the company of John and Peter
Hi Red, I have no idea where Buyukada ( Princess Island ) is but I am presuming that it is an island in the Sea Of Marmara . I do know that Taci Kocman lived on an island which was about a forty minute boat ride from Istanbul and he used to commute back and forth every day.
Once when we were tipping in Istanbul Taci told us that as it was a public holiday for the next two days then we wouldn’t be able to get tipped. He asked Jimmy Smethurst if he would like to go and stay at his house on the island for the holiday and Jim said that he would go over the following day as he had parked at The Stadium and was going to drive back to The Londra where the truck and the load would have been safer. Unfortunately when Jim got up to The Laundry Camp he became involved with a big Efes Control and spent the following day with a huge hangover .
Jim, I don’t think ever got over to the island but another driver who did said it was a really nice place with the only vehicles on the island being one police car, one ambulance, a fire engine, one taxi and there were lots of donkey carts.
Regards Steve.
mushroomman:
davemackie:
O.K., this weeks Old Grey Does It Really Matter Test is for Ron Davies or anybody else who might recognise it
Regards Steve.
Hi Steve, looks like the Topkapi Palace, The Blue Mosque, & The Sofia Mosque in the background.
Dave.
Well done Dave, that D.I.Y. holiday has certainly made you as sharp as a chisel .
I thought that Bestbooties or Ron Davies might of known this as I took this photo from Taci Kocmans office in June 1980, it’s a shame that the weather was not as bright as it usually was or then again the photo might of faded a bit. Does anybody know if Taci had another office before this one or if he did where was it ?.
Across the road from his office was where the Russian cruise liners berthed while they were visiting Istanbul after sailing around The Black Sea and The Med. If a driver shown his passport, which he was supposed to carry with him at all times then he could visit the duty free shops inside the docks and pick up some great bargains.
[/quote]
Pipped at the post!!! Actually I wasn’t able to get connected to the internet yesterday. I use my mobile phone as my modem out here and the phone was up the creek for some reason. I know…excuses, excuses!!
I suppose I could join in on this photo quiz lark but you guys out there are too bloomin’ good! OK, I’ll give you an easy one for starters but I may be off the net for a few days as I’ve got an old mate who’s come out to visit me and I’ll be doing the tour guide bit until saturday.
Ive summat similer what are they anyone■■?
[/quote]
Looks like Samara near Baghdad 
Ive summat similer what are they anyone■■?
[/quote]
Hi Klunk
Mosque Nr Mosul tower possiably Minaret 
Regards
Ian
Possibly a pigeon tower, the Arabs are crazy about pigeon racing…