Engine Punk

Last week I met the most extraordinary person – my editor. I’ve worked with Caroline Petherick on two books now over about two years but never met her before. It was only recently that I visited her at her clifftop home near Looe. I should have done this earlier for she’s full of bright ideas, is fascinated by the world in general and knows an awful lot of interesting stuff. What prompted this get together was a rather surprised e-mail from her a fortnight ago. Caroline is almost over-qualified as my editor for in addition to being a damned fine proof reader she has a pilot's licence and keeps sheep. Recently her flock of Jacob’s sheep have had lambs and one of them was enormous. Having worked on my book The Wormton Lamb, she had to tell me and I had to see this phenomenon for myself. Caroline lives in idyllic surroundings not far from the Monkey Sanctuary and with spectacular views of Looe Island. Her flock is a necessity. They keep her 35 acres under control. Their fleece...

Unlike previous Vintage Things, I've actually got one of these. I've had my Siva Llama for a few years now and it's currently awaiting removal of the body to allow the chassis to be shot blasted. It's a van variant - would you believe - and I've got all the hardtops and doors. It's just that it wasn't very well put together when it was built and somebody cut windows into the van sides. This wouldn't have been a problem if they'd got the measurements right. On one side they cut the hole too big and riveted in a strip to fill a gap of about 2 cm. They must have got this strip out of the bit they'd just removed. I bet the language was choice. I'm not sure how I'll deal with this when respray time beckons. Anyway, I never bothered with the doors or hardtops. It was always sunny wherever I went and the people always smiled and waved so I never felt the need. Don't judge this claim by the accompanying photos. Some of them might look ...

Today I featured in a Little Interview in The Herald, The Voice of Plymouth. I only just qualified for inclusion as I live in Liskeard but when I pointed out that I work in the dockyard Features Editor Martin Freeman relented and sent me his questions. What was particularly instructive for me was that only one of my publicity photographs was of a suitable size and quality for reproduction in the paper. So no scary pictures of me blowing up oil refineries like there are on my blogs. I'm pleased with the result, though, and had to restrain myself from showing everybody on the train this evening my picture in the paper. I might one day manage to be blase about this kind of thing but even if I could I doubt if I will. I still think it's something to be excited about. Click on the adjacent pictures to see larger images.

Back from my travels to Edinburgh, I was shooting the breeze with my neighbours. Around here tractors are a great source of pleasure. I'm not into them but a lot of my mates are. One or two could be Vintage Things. Most of my tractor fan mates are called Andrew. You'd think this would make life more convenient but it doesn't. More on that another time. Anyway, I'd just bumped into Andrew in town buying some "proper job" aluminium number plates for one of his Fordson Majors. He said how much he was looking forward to the forthcoming vintage shows despite the price of fuel. He was determined not to let anyone "piss on my firework." When I came home, Andrew and Andrew were fitting a warning beacon to Andrew's souped up, hot rodded six-cylinder Major. Andrew's got one of these, too. In fact he's got three now and is well into double figures with his tractors. I told them I'd just seen Andrew and they knew all about what he was up ...

Somebody was asking me today about my books and how they were selling. I said that recently sales have dropped off significantly and told her that some of my self publishing acquaintances are actually mothballing some of their projects until the economy pick up. As soon as I'd opened my mouth to explain this I realised that this was entirely the wrong approach - mothballing book projects, not opening my mouth (although some may beg to differ). The internet is a cheap form of entertainment for many people and if I can entertain them for free now (free podcasts coming up soon, folks!) then that will probably build up my goodwill - well, their goodwill towards me will be built up. Dreckly (there's a beautiful Cornish word) they will take the plunge and buy my book(s). It all comes back to the rule of seven - impinge on your customers awareness to motivate them to buy your goods or services. So mothballing now is entirely the wrong thing to do. If the competition for people's ...