This Yuletide tradition is one I have managed to keep up.
I do send Christmas cards, largely to family members.
I haven't yet written them and sometimes I send them much later in December.
I know the tradition generally is fading somewhat here in the UK with people opting to give to money to charity instead. This has become popular in workplaces like my own.
My own cards are vintage ones from the Seventies. I bought several large boxes of them years ago and have been sent them out ever since. A form of recycling I would argue.
Besides, I love the designs on Seventies Christmas cards and it feels like I'm sending out a little bit of the magic I felt as a kid as these sort of cards where the ones my Mum and Dad had strung up on strings around the front room.
Have you put your Christmas decorations up yet readers? We haven't yet. I've been trying to think when my folks did it but can't peel back the years enough to remember. I don't think it was any earlier than now. In fact I imagine it was a bit later in December. Do you follow family or cultural tradition in terms of timing and style with your trimmings?
Woodsy, your plastic space tank ATV is a mosh of sources [Woodsy adds: its the silver and maroon vehicle at the very front of this car boot haul]
and up close ....
The front half is a copy of the cockpit portion of the Macross SD Valkyrie toy.
The cockpit bubble is missing, probably to make a seat area (based on empty slot behind the large opening in your picture which probably was an attachment point for a windshield bubble that opened and closed) and not try to duplicate the rotating cockpit of the original.
Here is the Maximilian Jenius version in flight mode
I'm not sure if Matchbox ever released the SD toys. They were responsible for a lot of original toys for the Robotech series although the ones they used the original molds for (SDF-1, Monster) they cut corners on.
The SDF-1 lacks all the launcher mechanisms and the Monster is all in 1 color.
Here are some from an old attraction called Autopia.
The long flat cars are reminiscent of the vehicle in the Gerry Anderson TV pilot The Investigator shown below.
Another Disneyland vehicle is this 1971 Mickey Mouse space car. I think its inspired by Tomorrowland.
The overall clunky look of the rear box and the wheels reminds me of that other moon car we know well, the SpaceX MEV -2 pictured below.
Finally we have these Disney Star Jets. There are tons of pics of these flying spaceships online so they must have been popular. They may still be around.
With their sleek lines and rear tail fins i couldn't help thinking of the Rescue 2 craft from SpaceX toys, the red vehicle below bottom left. Maybe even the Project SWORD Nuclear Ferry shuttle as well!
Tokyo Disneyland even issued their own die-cast toy version of the Star jets vehicle.
What do you think readers?
have you been to Tomorrowland or flown on the Star jets?
A few more of my photo memories of our blog friend and all round top man, Ken Holt, who sadly passed away last Sunday.
Most Gerry & Sylvia Anderson fans will know that Ken served as Studio Production Manager at the Century 21 building at Stirling Road, and naturally had much personal insight into the day-to-day running of the studio. In fact, Ken was apparently the man who turned out the lights and locked up when Century 21 finally left the buildings.
Ken chatting to Georgina Moon
Ken chatting to Prentis Hancock
He was certainly a popular guest at various conventions, and on top of that he was a member, and an active commentator on many of the Facebook groups dealing with those Century 21 days. His enthusiasm and love for the subject really shone through, especially when he reminisced about 'the boys and girls' as he called them, working on the special effects. He was , of course especially fond of Derek Meddings.
He was 'friends' with many fans on Facebook, and his genuine and personable style made him so well liked with everyone, even if the technology occasionally frustrated him and he would vent his annoyance at it over several posts. Thankfully, I suspect his daughter, or one of his grandchildren would quickly sort it for him.
I did take a video of Ken, along with his pal, Focus Puller Robin McDonald and AP Films Director Alan Perry at RAF Cosford in 2014. It was only filmed for my personal use simply to check facts for my blog posts, and it was never my intention to post it, as the sound is quite low. But, it is just about audible, and I feel I'd rather share it as it does feature our Ken in full flow chatting about his days at the studio.
I know it's an obvious thing to say but, what the heck, I think I speak for everyone when I say you will be missed, mate.