Member postings for Colin Bishop

Father Christmas on a practice run....

The NHS are indeed putting off treatment as long as possible for budgetary reasons. Also they may only treat one eye 'to keep you going'.

I had both eyes done privately four years ago, one was more urgent than the other and treated in January, the other in November. The actual procedure is painless and straightforward, no worse than a visit to the dentist.

With regard to the distance setting, I have worn varifocal glasses for many years very successfully and after discussion with my consultant I opted for the implants to give a similar focus to that already existing which mean that there should be less likelihood of any adjustment complications. This seemed to work out pretty well for most situations but if I really want close up focus then I can get this by removing my glasses. You will never get everything perfect and everybody is different. Earlier this year I did get some regrowth over one of the new lenses but the YAG laser treatment treated it in just a few minutes.

The other huge bonus of the new implants was the restoration of colour. As cataracts are gradual you don't realise just how much they are dulling your vision. Afterwards it was a revelation with everything bright and vibrant. Just in time for our holiday to New Zealand!

At the time it cost me about £2,300 per eye but was money well spent. If you have set aside money for a rainy day then this is it!

Colin

Some interesting comments here but I think we should also consider the why as well as the how. I come from the scale model boating side where people are experimenting with CNC routing, 3D printers etc. with varying degrees of success. But to me my modelmaking is a leisure pastime and the prime driver is pleasure rather than advancing the spread of technology. I used to do quite a bit of computer programming before I retired so I’m sure I could dip into ‘maker’ techniques, 3D printing etc. if I set my mind to it but I have no real interest in doing so as to me it seems you have shifted the whole process upstream so that you design something and then a machine is programmed to make it for you. My satisfaction involves attacking a piece of wood with a craft knife and other associated activities which are literally hands on to the finished product.

Computer programming is a skill in itself and can be applied to all sorts of areas, the techniques used by makers to produce physical objects are perhaps not so very far removed from those used to write computer games and construct accounting or inventory systems. The big difference is that there is a physical rather than just a virtual end result but that only really applies to the output stage rather than to the processing that delivers it.

Naturally computerised techniques will appeal more to the younger generation as they are more comfortable with sitting in front of a screen designing rather than out in a shed getting oily amid pieces of metal and wood which is probably an entirely alien environment to them.

It’s horses for courses of course, or in my case ‘whatever floats your boat’. At the MEX I felt I was one of the younger ones – and I am 68!

Colin

It is encouraging to see the more positive and considered posts now emerging and I’m sure that the organisers will happily take on board the more helpful suggestions being made if the show is held at Brooklands next year.

Taking a step back, I think we need to acknowledge that model related hobbies are rapidly becoming ever more of a niche interest and that the numbers are simply no longer there to support shows at the more prestigious venues. I was sad to learn recently that Brighton Modelworld, considered to be one of the best general modelling shows, will not take place next year as the organisers can’t make the numbers add up.

In that context, moving the MEX to Brooklands could be considered an imaginative exercise in managed downsizing. OK, you have to live with the rather fragmented layout in historic buildings but improved signage and directions will go a long way to overcome that. On the plus side you have access to all the wonderful full size engineering of different flavours on the site which can hardly fail to be of interest to most of us. So perhaps not a bad all round compromise really. Some show is generally better than no show.

As far as trade presence is concerned, it is a similar story in the model boating world. Retail operations are increasingly being conducted online with direct sales from China looming large. Model Boaters do like to see before they buy though and the UK retail side is largely made up of small family businesses. Attending a show represents a significant overhead for them and impacts on their day to day sales operations which are mostly online these days. In recent years many have simply been priced out of shows at the larger venues and now often only attend smaller regional shows or piggyback on club events.

So we have to adapt to the situation and I do think that despite a few drawbacks due to this being the first time the show has been held at Brooklands, it does have the potential to literally keep the show on the road for a little while yet.

Colin

Well never mind Sam, perhaps you should've gone to Specsaver.s.... It would appear that you actually arrived at the back entrance which is why you were assumed to be an exhibitor. Had you gone to the main entrance (which is signposted on the local approach roads) all would have been a bit clearer but I find it difficult to understand how you thought admission to the site and show would have been free.

I agree that the layout was fragmented and not ideal but there were some signs about plus a detailed plan of the show which could be downloaded online and was no doubt available to visitors using the main entrance and it was not too difficult to puzzle it out really.

I don't know if the show will be held there again but if it is then no doubt there will be improvements.

Colin

As Chief Marine Judge at the MEX (and also Model Boats Website Editor) I am very disappointed to read some of the sneering and patronising posts on this topic. If you can't find anything good to say or offer constructive and informed criticism then best to keep silent in favour of those who do support the hobby. As for not realising you had to pay - well, pull the other one please.

No, the show isn't perfect but it is there due to a lot of unpaid effort by volunteers, mostly not in the first flush of youth, but who are still willing to go the extra mile. They should be appreciated, not dismissed as 'old codgers'. If you aren't one yet, you will be soon, believe me!

Judging is intended to be done on the Thursday, but you can only judge what is there. In our case two models came all the way down from Liverpool, got stuck in traffic on the M25 and didn't arrive until 5pm so those models did not get judged until Friday. Most of the models arrive from late morning onwards which does put the judges under pressure and it is not necessarily going to be possible to finish the job the same day. The glory days at Wembley when two days were allocated for setting up and judging are long gone in these days of declining numbers and decreasing budgets.

Instead of whingeing be grateful that people are still willing to make these shows happen, albeit on a relatively shoestring basis. Enjoy them while you can as the ageing demographic of model engineers and model makers means that they may not be there for very much longer. Attendances will keep going down as old timers fall off the perch and are not replaced.

Colin