Digging around the history of the vehicle pictured while laying over at Llangollen during the New Year's Day Heritage Bus running event, I chanced upon an image posed next to BL88 running on its OJD 93R plates. That surprised me, as I have only seen it on its 'proper' plates. It was the comment by Google's AI Overview that had me in stitches: "Used in the Chester and Wrexham areas by operators like Crosville (a former London Transport subsidiary)". I had suspected as much all along! Seriously, Google needs to do a bit of extra homework and learn a bit more about vintage bus events. The problem is, even the mention of that gibberish will in turn be used in the next iteration of bullshit, with who knows what outcome? It was a good day out, though marred by TfW's progressive introduction of CAF junk-trains in place of its legendary 158 Super Sprinters. A random change of buses resulted in my apprentice and me riding on an open-air Volvo saloon in a thoroughly seasonal squall of rain on a windy and very cold day - but everyone was very good-humoured, notwithstanding. The ride to Llangollen on the Leyland was an interesting contrast with last year's RT run, and very enjoyable. Well done, everybody!

Stockport 93 on the stand at Llangollen, prior to departing for Wrexham. Photo © J.Wilkins

Reinstatement of the exit door handrails - at last. Photo © J.Wilkins

Mucking about at heritage bus running events does not cut the mustard of returning my own bus to service, of course. Therefore, a short visit was made on the following day to install all the screws that I had fettled or accumulated over the Christmas break. It was cold! Gloves are an impossibility on such jobs, and at 3°C with a sprinkling of snow on the higher fields around the garage, any contact with metalwork was an ordeal. However, a full set of 8 countersunk screws were trimmed to length and employed to attach the handrails which were a present from MB90 back in April 2018. The small handles for pulling the doors still require attaching, but they need attention first. The set-bolt in the operating arm was measured, trimmed and inserted with a star-washer, and that was enough for me. Attention continued to the assorted pieces of magnolia-ware in the kitchen, the only place where I can make progress in any semblance of comfort!