RSS feeds

Heard of RSS? Its a great way of keeping up with whats going on out there. I personally use "Bloglines" which is great for most of the subjects I'm interested in, trouble is, there aren't many MG blogs to choose that I can feed from. If anybody knows of any, please send them in.

For keeping up with current affairs these things are great and as a librarian I've always refused to apologise for going through the papers first thing in the morning and finding out whats going on in the world. I work part time on a reference desk in the city and the best way, in my opinion, to give an air of competance is to have more than a working knowledge about current affairs (other than those mentioned in New Weekly or Who magazine).

Library blogs abound of course, and one, which is of particular use is the Goulburn Local History Blog. If you are coming to Goulburn, and many driving enthusiasts do due to Wakefield Park, give it a look. It can give you a great starting point if you want to have a look around Australia's oldest inland city.

http://www.strlhistorymatters.blogspot.com/

This chap is obviously somebody who would appreciate the book I reviewed last (see the link below) I have this model as well, in fact its hard to find somone who doesn't! But its a lovely photo. I only wish I had a macro lense that could get this close to the subject.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pernfors88/1463111122/

The Complete Guide to MG Collectibles

OK, what MG owner doesn't have an octagon emblazoned t-shirt, matchbox MGB or slowly rotting key fob somewhere in their household? I don't care how transient your MG ownership is, or has been, chances are you'll refuse to discard some old sales brochure or owners manual. Curious thing is, MG didn't make a big deal out of branded merchandise in Australia in recent years. It can't have been a case of snobbery either. Aston Martin and Bentley haven't been above selling watches, mugs, t-shirts and fleeces. Visits to the motor show in Sydney or Melbourne would end with my walking away from the MG stand seriously frustrated.

"The Complete Guide to MG Collectibles" increased the frustration when I first read it because there has been a serious amount of MG themed "stuff" made over the years. And this chap, Michael Ellmann-Brown, has it all. He tells of how his collection started from a key ring and grew into the accumulation of mind numbing vastness that it is today. Some of it is very rare and expensive such as a handmade model of a 1935 R-Type, others, not so rare, such as postcards and brochures. I think his urge to collect bordered on obsessive compulsiveness when he tells the tale of visiting an auction so that he can could bid, successfully too I might add, on one of the old MG factory telephones. No engraving or badges are present to prove its authenticity, you just have to believe. I found some of my collectibles in this beautifully illustrated book and irritated my partner no end with yelps of delight accompanied with "Jodie, Jodie, look, look..." at each discovery.

The photography is excellent and of a very high standard and the narrative entertaining, although scant. The publication quality is typical of Bay Books with excellent quality paper and strong binding. I can definitely recommend this book but be aware, it WILL be borrowed by fellow MG heads and you WILL annoy your significant other.

Bay View Books. 1997. (ISBN: 1870979877) ELLMANN-BROWN, MICHAEL.