Manama Apollo 16

I love these old Manama stamps. This one of astronauts leaving a vehicle is great. Not sure where Manama is. More stamps to come.

A Handful of Flicks

I've caught a few movies over Christmas holidays in between the mince pies and fireworks. A few thoughts.

Black Christmas: an all-time fave from 1974 with the brilliant John Saxon, Olivia de Hussey, Margot Kidder and Keir Dullea. Fabulously festive and grim in equal parts, it's self-contained Seventies world is a perfect Yuletide horror.

Christmas Horror Story: a modern addition to my Yule ghouls, this anthology anchored by the superb William Shatner has everything: Krampus, sprites, possessions and a warrior Santa. An annual treat.

Murder by Decree: Sherlock gets to grips with Jack the Ripper and uncovers a conspiracy of Freemasons, royals and bloody murder. Chris Plummer makes a great Holmes, as does James Mason as Watson.

Rocketman: a musical biopic about Elton John. Really ace central performance of Elton, plagued with another useless Dad ( a la the recent Bruce Springsteen biopic too) at the stories troubled heart. The songs are just majestic.

Elvis: what can I say. Colonel Tom screwed the King. This flick made me angry. A very sad tale of unimaginable talent and an evil manager who kept Elvis chained up.

All I need now is Scrooged to complete my holidays.

Have you seen any of these films readers? 

New Year Gorilla

The Grandkids won me this ace ape in Withernsea arcade.

A rubber Kong, he's guarding our TV remote. 

What's he wanna watch readers? 

Cor! Roadranger!

I like the look of this Roadranger.  It's a new one on me. You? 

Do Pass Go!

Hot Wheels 2025 releases included another commemorative issue recently, ‘Pass N Go’ which records the 90th anniversary of the board game Monopoly. The classic game featured a small pewter racing car, not unlike a 1960’s Vanwall of Mercedes racer. Hot Wheels have produced a lovely little model of the car in the latest release.

At first sught, its very similar to the Schuco Micro Racer series, the larger clockwork cars available in the sixties. Pass N Go has limited detail and had a 90 tampa decal on the rear, which I glossed over on my version, to complete the effect.

The larger Schuco racer is a modern repro I think, the key isnt original, but does wind the motor, which has lost the starter lever. The extended exhaust pipe is usef to control the front wheel steering.

 

New Year Rockets

 New Year's fireworks sent me browsing for rockets.

These old German ones look amazing! Like Novas! 

Brilliant card and box art too! 

Did or do your fireworks look like rockets? 

Stout, Lime and Tan Hill

 

On New Year's Day we spent a most convivial afternoon at the remote Tan Hill Inn on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, the highest pub in England.

Whilst warming up inside and with half a delicious stout, I read a few pages from my older brother's sixth horror novel, the Lime Pit.

What a pub! 

Have you been somewhere remote where you've read a book? 

La Flotta della Galassia

 I like this amazing snake-like spaceship by Fassi of Italy.

It's like Beetlejuice's elongated arms! 

The whole range looks good.

What do you reckon?