The Unofficial Mamod and Other Steam Forum

Manxman · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 12:25 pm Post subject: Just to be part of the fun

Well, it's Sunday afternoon and the TT races have been cancelled (mist on the hills, so the air ambulance can't land) and I've been catching up on the “meet the members” posts. It's difficult to know where to start with my story but here goes.

I'm 44 years old and work for the Isle of Man Government as a manager of child care services (social workers etc). I have a partner (social worker) and an ex wife (teacher) to help me spend my money, and, when they have finished we have 5 teenage lads (2 I'm to blame for, the other 3 have been added to the family over the years) to spend what's left. I seem to live between two houses and have never quite got done whatever I was supposed to be doing. At this point it's a business proposal for 9.00am tomorrow (in work tomorrow for 7.00am then again).

To add to my joy we have the lads girlfriends (2 fairly much part of the house at the moment) to cope with, 3 horses and a dog. I love doing overtime at the weekends and in the evenings and sometimes early in the mornings, if it gets me out of the house.

I've always liked toys and had Mamod engines as a boy. I returned to them in the mid 1990's when my own boys were old enough to enjoy live steam. The boys got bored fairly quickly but I was hooked. And so my collection has grown. I enjoy running the engines but I also enjoy the research part of the hobby and the escapism that comes with old steam toys. I really like the mobiles and am fascinated by the older toys. Some of these models are getting to be 100 years old and I enjoy trying to think about the lad who had the engine 'as new' in 1920, that I am now holding.

I joined the old Mamod forum early last year and moved over to our current home with others last July when the old forum was closed. I don't get to spend as much time as I'd like with the steam toys but it's enough to take my mind off other things I should be doing and I believe it keeps me on an even(ish) keel.

Oh, and the rest of the family tend to leave me alone when I'm doing toy steam because it's all a bit embarrassing and surely there are better things I could be doing with my time, I think not.
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Manx, the mobile man

IndianaRog · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 12:33 pm Post subject:

Manx,

A delightful story...as for the rest of the family leaving you alone with your toys, deep down they know it makes you happy and Lord knows they want the patriarch of the family happy!!!

Your place on the Isle of Man sounds heavenly. Thanks for sharing, this INTRO business is becoming my favorite thread!!!

cheers,
Roger
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Visit IndianaRog and The Temple of Steam: www.indianarog.com

Mamodman123 · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 12:33 pm Post subject:

Great introduction Manxy

you've certianly got your hands full thats for sure

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Solid Fuel tablets explode

You could get a nice flatbase for that

www.mamodsteam.tk

SillyBilly · Guest

What a complicated lifestyle! I love the IofM a wonderful place it is!

MTA · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 1:07 pm Post subject:

I will have to go over to the Isle of Man again soon. Spend a weekend there or summat, seeing as it's only a short train ride to Southampton airport and hop on a plane over there

Or I could just wait until the Amberley crew go back over with 'Polar Bear' to the Groudle Glen Railway

Keep on collecting Manx, your mobile collection is an envy of many

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Si

"If the fascination engendered by locomotion at the present day is so intense, the attractive powers of locomotion in miniature must of necessity be greater still"

W.J. Bassett-Lowke. August 1911

tmuir · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 1:12 pm Post subject:

My wife is also a Social Worker although obviously with a 4 week old baby she is not working at the moment.
When we lived in Glasgow she worked in 'Child Protection' there is only so long you can do that before it gets to you........

Now that I've brought her over to Australia she thought she would do something easier, she now works for ASETTS (Association for Services to Torture and Trauma Survivors) and helps refugees settle into Australia.

I just thought I would tell you that as she said she likes you more now she knows you work in Child Care Services and doesn't just consider you as the man that corrupted me into spending loads of money on toy steam after you helped me fix my TE1a.

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http://www.freewebs.com/ozsteam/index.htm
http://members.iinet.net.au/~tmuir1/

A nice example of an Australian made Scorpion Donkey Engine

mc_mc · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 3:13 pm Post subject:

Hi Manx, I have an uncle and aunt on the Isle of Man (they live in Douglas two minutes walk away from the TT Grandstand /start line). So I visit every couple of years. It seems a very quiet laid back sort of place (apart from TT fortnight!) and is always relaxing when I go there.

mc

Griffin · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 3:28 pm Post subject:

You certainly have a busy lifestyle Manx.

I have always fancied visiting the Isle of Man, but never managed to get there.

If I ever do I will be sure to drop you a line.
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I have a soft spot for SR1's, and Jensen engines of the cast iron leccy variety

Sandman · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 7:52 pm Post subject:

Great intro Manx.

Really enjoyed it.

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Ouch! Where's the burn cream

Did someone mention Bowman?

erikl · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 8:06 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the intro manx. It's surprising you still find money (and recources) for the steam toys

I just like you thinks it's a great hobby to escape from every day life

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My site: www.steam-toys.com
I also like the bigger toys: www.stoomtrein.org

tony gregory · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 8:07 pm Post subject:

welcome manx

Wallace · Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 12:39 am Post subject:

Nice story to read Manxman, thanks for sharing
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http://www.freewebs.com/mamodsteam/

John Chapman · Guest

Thanks for sharing Manx.

I will happily add my name to the list of people who love the Island. Jenny and I have been over a few times for Yn Chruinacht, the Celtic music festival in Ramsay.

The Island must have the worlds best mountain, you ride up to the summit on a tram and there is a pub at the top when you arrive.

oldstuff · Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2007 1:48 pm Post subject: Re: Just to be part of the fun