Thanks for the smiles AJ The photo bellow is of Two bikes that I had ? Now when I see your initials ■■ I aways think of the first bike on the left !! Wy don’t you ad an S to your nondeplum, Ron
Just ONE word Ron: BRILLIANT!
I hope you’ll enjoy nice weather this spring despite the Corona-virus, take care Jonesy (dads army)
Gud day Backsplice hope all is well with you in that land down under .This world is in big trouble ? you told me to keep my head down !! So I have been in the shed painting the Crash hat ,the photo bellow is a proper fuel stop in the mountains down south , unlike the tankers parked up on a pile of sand with a gravity feed to the trucks
Trans Arabia tested the power of ■■■■■■■ in the Desert of Saudi Arabia ,True trail blazers the ERF truck was remarkable with this power of ■■■■■■■ , the sands of time has run out !! But the memories live on Ron
Kenb:
0
Good pic, Ken! Those Hajjis would have been heading back to North Africa 
Rowena
ERF-NGC-European:
Kenb:
0Good pic, Ken! Those Hajjis would have been heading back to North Africa
Rowena
Well Rowena you are a dark horse!! Big changes that are not without their problems, clearly not just out if the blue and has been with you for an awful long time - I wish you well in your new life.
Yes when I saw this picture it brought back so many memories, and was really early in Trans Arabia’s development - one of those situations that we had not been prepared for, absolute chaos, yes they were heading back to Northern Africa ins down the East coast ie Somali/Kenya etc.
Anyway one thing cane out of this situation was that many pilgrims tried to get jobs and stag illegally and work, we had an Indonesian guy turn up - a trained and qualify hotel chef looking for a job, we grabbed him with both hands and our quality of food and life changed considerably as Bill Smith and myself were doing all the cooking etc, we put up a list for washing up but that went down like a lead ballon. So Hamza stayed with us for many years - he could turn pieces of old leather not sumptuous steaks.
Anyway enough if that.
Their has been quite a lot of info coming up on Facebook about working in the Middle East.
Good luck fir you future
Cheers
Ken Broster
Kenb:
ERF-NGC-European:
Kenb:
0Good pic, Ken! Those Hajjis would have been heading back to North Africa
Rowena
Well Rowena you are a dark horse!! Big changes that are not without their problems, clearly not just out if the blue and has been with you for an awful long time - I wish you well in your new life.
Yes when I saw this picture it brought back so many memories, and was really early in Trans Arabia’s development - one of those situations that we had not been prepared for, absolute chaos, yes they were heading back to Northern Africa ins down the East coast ie Somali/Kenya etc.
Anyway one thing cane out of this situation was that many pilgrims tried to get jobs and stag illegally and work, we had an Indonesian guy turn up - a trained and qualify hotel chef looking for a job, we grabbed him with both hands and our quality of food and life changed considerably as Bill Smith and myself were doing all the cooking etc, we put up a list for washing up but that went down like a lead ballon. So Hamza stayed with us for many years - he could turn pieces of old leather not sumptuous steaks.
Anyway enough if that.
Their has been quite a lot of info coming up on Facebook about working in the Middle East.
Good luck fir you future
Cheers
Ken Broster
Cheers for that Ken 
- much appreciated!
Rowena
At first glance I thought that was a SARAMAT Volvo but no roof mounted A/C and on closer inspection you can see the international stickers on the rear window anyway nice shot of how things were hope everybody is keeping well see a similar scene at the gates of THE SARAMAT depot Mina Road Jeddah there was a roundabout there and a HAJI Hotel on one corner … pandemonium
To be honest…I hope you all are sound, safe and moreover happy…despite covid-19 and a new normal world.
Special thoughts to our veteran Ronald F. Hawkeye (without Loretta Switt from M.A.S.H.-Series) and I really do
hope you are alive and kicking, still going strong and find your way in this odd-world nowadays.
Give us a sign, even or espcially out of your TA-MACK-shed…with the stove burning while you (as Clessie ■■■■■■■
did) thinking and tinkering on whatever is required.
Best wishes, stay SOUND…take your time step by step, be safe and not at least stay HAPPY and with good feelings!
A.J.S. (that’s what is on your reservoir)…Jonesy with a step after the peton did 
I would like to express the same compliments and hope my Sadiq is keeping well …all is well down here (at the moment) it sure is turbulent times stay safe and well
Mah salahm
Well I will go to the foot of our Apple tree !! Thanks AJ (S) and Backsplice ,its good to know all is well , my thoughts are aroused from your goodwill messages. The MAC shed has been busy ■■ so to has the Apple tree it’s grown taller ■■? the wooden ladders gave way fortunately I grabbed onto a sturdy branch and escaped without a scratch ,good job Loretta Swit saved me !! I put a barrow full of apples out on the street for folk to help there selves , they all went ,
Now I know this has been on earlier …but its a true sign of days gone bye which are memories for those of us who are left …frankly I can only share these with the likes of my good friend (sidiyq jayid )
Ronhawk when I relate some o the stuff to others out here they are inclined to think its a fairy tale …they will never know …hard but happy memories
'abaq amanaa (Stay safe )… Glad you,re ok Ronnie
Out of the frying pan into the fire , first day ? White skin new shorts and belt , no time to acclimatise T/A where short of drivers ,and trucks , take this down the port ? ( Where’s that )Don’t forget to drive on the right side of the sand ,and mind the pilgrims sitting behind a R/H drive you are on your own ( that’s just for starters )
You hit the nail on the head there mate !! changing driving sides you had to get it right …no room for error my first practice ( in the depot ) I drove round the wrong side …you learned fast though or the “Tonka s” would get you for sure …anyway my old pal you stay on the safe side and look after yourself and keep clear of the dreaded V …another white man for you !!! first week !!
Mah sa;lahn
Ronhawk calling AJ( S) *^=#%~>< over !! Hope you keeping well in this troubled world stay safe .You asked about the T/A Mac shed ? Well it’s my man cave and I love it , the bike I have been working on belongs to my son Mark I have just fitted the seat that came back yesterday from a one man saddle shed in Walsall wood he made a good job of the leather work and it feals good .after lowering the suspension and repairing an old Fuel tank , sprayed up and fitting side panels ,including an old headlight with a brass rim it’s now a ( one off ) ■■ I have not rode this 650 cc CCM ? I prefer the BSA , RON (ps I wish I had starter!!) The rear light on the marks bike , is an old rubber trailer marker light I had S Jone’s all those years ago
Hey gents…seen enough of your white bellies
Good to highlight the good experiences and relevant evidences!
You made a hell of a job out of the motor-bike and I think your son
is very proud to ride the streets with a genuine wheely! Craftman-
ship on the saddle and good the TA-116-shed has the same tennant.
Here on the continent it’s autumn (wind, rain) but nice temperature.
Time to remain active on a booklet (English/Italian) on a rather un-
known commercial vehicle out of the Alfa Romeo stable: “ROMEO”
This smart range of vehicles (both pick-up and van) was produced
during 1954 till 1966 with in total roughly 20.000 chassis assembled.
Produced in Naples-region and herewith some pictures. Quite some
survivors (pfff after roughly 60 years) in the UK as well!
Take care you strong veterans and sound regards!
