February 2005
The final main noggin of the year was again hosted by Avril and John Beskeen, ably assisted by Lara. Their hospitality and ability to cater for the voracious appetites for both solid and liquid refreshment of the large number of members who turned up is very much appreciated. A big thank you from us all. We welcomed the attendance of our chairman Malcolm Lamb who graciously took the opportunity of addressing our members and of winning the monthly raffle!

It was an opportune time for Malcolm to attend because it was also the last noggin to be honoured by the presence of our outgoing secretary Geoff and long-suffering wife Jenny. They will both be missed as members and friends and we all wish them an
extremely happy future in their new home in Cambridge. Since we will soon be arranging runs for 2005, the Tipler house warming could be a good week-end run! They know that they will always be welcome at our functions. (s.a.e. for application form please!)

Geoff’s unique sense of humour and ready wit will be missed by many, although some may breathe a sigh of relief in that they can now be more relaxed in the knowledge that each and every minor indiscretion will not necessarily be reported here. Nothing to worry about now Linda!

The East Wales stalwarts, as usual, enjoyed their noggin on December 15th at the Usk Conservative club. It made the evening to have so many other members joining us for a good meal and plenty of genial small talk. Thank you Jackie for organising the meal.

Our first noggin of 2005 sees us at the new venue of the High Corner House Hotel in Llanharan. Be there by 7 o’clock to order meals on a two for one basis.

Lyn and Elaine are organising another weekend in Rhayader (preferably without the snow-drifts) on 25th/26th Feb. This will be the first run of the year so, if interested contact Lyn a.s.a.p.
Also keep Saturday 12th March free as there is likely to be a leaving bash for  Geoff and Jenny.




March 2005
The first noggin of the new year saw us at a new venue. . The meeting was well attended and we welcomed new members Humphrey and Caroline Glynternick, who turned up in their recently acquired 4/4. I’m sure they’ll enjoy the car and the company. The evening started with us sitting down for a meal – edible, but the service was poor to say the least, due to the chef being ill and the hotel manager standing in for him. Things must improve.

The formal part of the evening began with a brief summary of the NCM held in December. This stirred a lively debate which had to be curtailed  for the election of centre officers. There being no-one willing to step forward, the secretary and treasurer were returned to office unanimously, to the obvious relief of everyone else.

The rest of the evening was devoted to the annual ritual of trying to get people to volunteer their skills and expertise in arranging monthly runs to places and events of great interest. The programme is now full and varied with just one gaping omission – what are we going to do at the end of April? I thought Mal, after winning a bottle of plonk in the raffle would have done the honours – maybe he would have if he’d been forced to drink it first. However, there is always next year!

Colin, Vicky and Richard Clement are keen to get as varied a collection of Morgans as possible to attend the Swansea Historical Vehicles Register Singleton Show on 2ndMay. what else could you possibly want to do on a Bank Holiday Monday? Please contact them on 01792 208143.

We have the opportunity of bidding Geoff and Jenny a fond, but sad, farewell on 12th March at Longridge. Be There!

Meet at Taylor’s Café, 10.30 prompt for Dianne’s Easter day out – bonnets optional.


April 2005
The main noggin in February saw only10 Taffmogers turn up at Llanharan, four of the gentlemen not bothering to bring their other halves. However, it was a pleasant evening. Some of us had meals and it must be reported that the standard was a distinct improvement on the previous month, although the rice with my curry was still associated with a lot of water from its paddy field. Chris had the good fortune, or should I say the cheek, to draw his own number out of the raffle. Just as well the prize wasn’t the bottle of vodka that Caroline and Humphrey so generously contributed. They are obviously enjoying our company.

The East Wales noggin was very well attended and if numbers are anything to go by, was the main noggin of the month. Dai and Pat honoured us with their presence after their exertions in the mountains! It looks as though it’s done them a power of good.
Ivor tells me that the West Wales noggin has become a non-event recently. This is a shame since there are quite a few Mog owners and MSCC members in the area. Come on folks please join in.

Lyn and Elaine organised another not-to-be-missed weekend in Rhayader with 8 Mogs (Lyn and Elaine, Keith and Ronnie, Ivor and Alison, Dai and Pat, Jennie and Bob, Caroline and Humphrey, Dianne and Haydn and John and Margaret Bullen travelling up from Woking), Kevin and Helen’s trusty TR4 and an oil-burning tin top (Stuart and Jackie) making up the party. The Elan Hotel could not cope with us all so the late-bookers had to make do with B&Bs close by.

Wales had escaped the worst of the snow in the previous few days, although Lyn and Elaine did succeed in finding us some - not enough to get their Mog stuck in a drift overnight like last year but very pretty it was. It seems that there is some special relationship between the numbers 6 and 9! How is it that Pat, in urgent need of access to her small room (6) after the Saturday run, turned up in the car park with the key to Lyn’s room (9)? Answers on a post card.

The Saturday run was super, following minor roads to Llanidloes ( for the ladies to get some retail therapy at Laura Ashley) and Llyn Clywedog before a coffee stop at Machinations in Llanbrynmair,. Then, it was on to Machynlleth for lunch at the best fish and chip shop in Wales. Unfortunately, it was closed, so we had to make do with a scenic run of the Co-op car park and lunch at various venues in the town. The afternoon run took us past Nant y Moch reservoir and through Devil’s Bridge and the Elan Valley back to the hotel. At our evening meal it did not go unnoticed that Ivor now has a serious contender in the healthy appetite stakes (steaks?). Humphrey not only followed his starter and main course with two desserts but then rounded things off with a couple of hefty slices of mine host’s birthday cake. It’s enough to make you sick – not seeing him eat, but the fact that there isn’t an ounce of fat on him. Life just isn’t fair.
Lyn is to be congratulated on his arrangement for recording the France – Wales international for us to enjoy after the meal. The result was a perfect finish to a perfect day.

On the Sunday morning, a +8 and a +4 needed a little persuasion to stir them into life while all the 4/4s behaved impeccably, as usual.

Sunday saw Dianne having the Mog to herself and afterwards stating that it was the best drive she’d had, with no critical husband present to spoil things. She, like everyone else, enjoyed the exhilarating drive up the Devil’s Staircase but Kevin was a little critical, saying that it had lost much of its character due to the felling of several trees. A brief stop at Tregaron (which was also closed) was followed by a visit to Llanddewi Brefi. We didn’t spot the only gay in the village, but we did spot a certain person making off with the village sign (all will be revealed at Christmas). The weekend was rounded off with a late lunch in the Abercrave Arms where we enjoyed watching the Ireland – England game. It is true to say that there was some ambivalence of feeling about the result because, either way Wales benefits. Thank you, Lyn and Elaine, for another excellent week-end.

Don’t forget the Swansea Historical Vehicles Show at Singleton Park on Monday 2ndMay. You must be there by 9.45am. Colin, Vicky and Richard Clements are hoping for a good turnout of Morgans.


May 2005
The main noggin in Llanharan was well attended in March and it looks as though we will continue using the High Corner House Hotel as no one has come up with any alternative. It must be noted that the proprietor has changed his ideas once again and so if you want to eat on a two-for-one basis, you need to order prior to 7pm.

The main business of the evening included an update on Mel Chislett’s recovery, which he tells me is going to be a long process. With his positive attitude and Mo’s care and attention, he should continue to improve. Members were also reminded about Geoff and Jenny’s farewell do in St. Nicholas and given details of Dianne’s Easter run.

The evening of 19th March saw a happy throng in the village hall of St. Nicholas. Happy for two reasons, it appears. Firstly of course, the Welsh Grand Slam – no inane comments about how long it’s been please! Secondly, as Kev’s artistic sign hoped – they really were leaving!  There were more villagers than Morganeers there which must be an indication of the impression they’ve made on simple village life. Interpret that in your own way. The evening itself consisted of a quiz involving the most obscure questions – well it was devised by Geoff. His long-term memory is still functioning, however, as shown by the number of questions on the avoirdupois system that I just about recall from the back of exercise books. Due to a completely unfair and biased decision, the best team did not win.  Sincerely though, we in South Wales wish them both the very best and look forward to meeting up with them again in the future.

Recently there has been a spate of good fortune within Taffmog. It started with Ivor and Alyson winning a superb motoring holiday in the South of France. Then, John Beskeen, with some lucky Cornish pixie on his shoulder, just so happened to be in the right place at the right time to acquire a pair of tickets for the Grand Slam final at face value – and this on match day when they were going elsewhere for hundreds of pounds. I think I’ll buy a lottery ticket this month.

Then there were 5.  It appears that Dave and Linda have recently joined Stuart & Jacky, Kev & Helen, Keith & Ronnie and Lyn & Elaine as the latest pair of Puckers in Taffmog. If they can get a rally going it’ll really be something else.

Dianne & Haydn were joined by Colin & Vicky, Humphrey & Caroline, Rob & Kay, Dennis & Liz, Dave & Kay, Kev & Helen and Stuart & Jackie at Taylor’s Café for the Easter Sunday run. It was overcast but remained dry, not like the torrential downpour that Colin, Vicky, Humphrey and Caroline endured on their way up from Swansea. Humphrey & Caroline were totally invigorated due to the fact that they steadfastly refused to put the hood up. It was a relatively short run, via Chepstow, to the Taurus Craft Centre, just outside Lydney where we were joined by John & Avril for lunch and a wander around. Before leaving, the Easter bonnets were judged. Obviously a lot of thought and hard work had gone into these and the first prize of a magnificent Easter egg was narrowly won by Colin Clements. Very nice he looked too.
Rob & Kay had to take their leave of us (dogs are for life, not just Christmas) before the afternoon run which took us via Hopewell Colliery in the Forest of Dean to Symonds Yat for a cream tea – and a share of Colin’s prize.

There is no run planned for the end of April because we have the Swansea Historical Vehicles Register Vintage Car Fayre at Singleton Park on Bank Holiday Monday 2nd May. Also, the following Sunday, 8th May we have the South Wales Classic Car Show at Pencoed. All proceeds from this event go to local charities and Kevin would like to see a good crowd of Morgans there.


June 2005
The main April noggin was poorly attended yet again – do we need to consider a different venue? Does anyone have any suggestions? It was a pleasure to see John and Glenda Rees for the first time this year. As an inducement to get them to attend on a regular basis they were allowed to draw the winning ticket for the raffle. Unfortunately, they drew the wrong one so they might as well have stayed at home.

Both Gary and Mel have been back in hospital recently and we sincerely wish them the best.

Each of our chosen charities, Ty Hafan and the Noah’s Ark Appeal have responded with appreciation to our donation of all monies raised by the Christmas raffle. Jackie was given the receipts at the Usk noggin and they will be presented to Tesco’s Charity Trust in acknowledgement of their augmenting the final amount by 20%.

There was no organised run in April so Dianne and I made the most of the superb weather on the 24th to take a run up to her Alma Mater, Aberystwyth. How it’s changed since the late 60’s when the only place open on a Sunday was the Milk Bar! It was a pleasure to see Dianne’s home for three years, Alexandra Hall, on the front, being renovated and actually occupied by students because it is a superb building. The last time we were there it was occupied by squatters.

It’s always nice to see another Morgan when on a run and we did just that on our final drive through the town, when we spotted a 4/4 parked in a side street. However, it did not have a Taffmog car badge and this is unforgivable, particularly since we have a limited supply of these must-haves at the bargain price of £30 + £5 p&p – orders to the address above.

The arrangements for the grand Taffmog Christmas weekend 2005 are just about all in place so you will need to be prompt in getting your names down. The event will be held at the Castle of Brecon Hotel, in the glorious Brecon Beacons National Park, on 3rd / 4th December and the cost of £150 entitles each couple to tea/coffee and mince pies on arrival, dinner with a bottle of wine and the usual disco, bed and breakfast.  It also includes entry to a place of interest on the Saturday. After breakfast on the Sunday morning, Kev and Helen have organised an exhilarating run, ending at a hostelry for lunch before we make our way home. Extra accommodation is available for the Friday and/or Sunday nights at a cost of £60 per couple.

If you have not received a letter or e-mail by the time you read this, and wish to participate in the event of the season, please get in touch with me at the above address.

Please note below the revised date of Chris and Helen’s run.


July 2005
May started with the Swansea Historical Vehicle Register Singleton Show on Bank Holiday Monday. Colin Clement’s worries about how many Morgans would attend were completely unfounded. We had a magnificent array ranging from Ted Bowman’s  1932 three-wheeler to Dennis Bailey’s Aero 8. In between there was Dave & Jacky’s ’47 flat rad, a racing +4 belonging to Brian Jenkins, an ex-Colin Musgrove +8 (43 MOG) now with Mike Baroth and an assortment of 4/4s both 2- and 4-seaters. Ben Duncan was kind enough to come down in a new +4 but Dianne’s radar was in perfect working order and I couldn’t do a deal! Richard Clement’s marquee saved us from the (dare I say) inclement weather and I am pleased to announce that Taffmog won the award for the Best Club Stand. A big thank you to Colin, Richard and of course Vicky who provided us with a magnificent buffet.

Another weekend, another show. This time it was the South Wales Classic Car Show at Pencoed. Kevin was on official duty but had managed to find the time to erect the gazebo and organise the club stand with the aid of Humphrey and Caroline. There was another good turn out of immaculately presented Morgans. The weather was much kinder to us but although we were in the running for the best club stand, it was narrowly stolen by Jaguar. However, Kevin already has plans well in hand for next year’s show to ensure that Taffmog will beat all pretenders! The day was rounded off by a super barbecue at Kev & Helen’s. Thanks for that Helen and well done for managing to get everything ready in spite of that laid-back guy Lyn Eade and Elaine turning up at your place early, rather than going to the show as arranged.

The Winter habit of turning up at noggins in tin-tops is still with us, it seems, as there was only Colin & Vicky’s at Llanharan and Dave & Kay’s at Usk. I’m sure we’ll see more now that the evenings are lighter and drier.

At the main noggin we officially thanked those people who’d put in a lot of hard work for our benefit during the month and discussed the Taffmog Christmas weekend. Deposits are coming in thick and fast and I must remind you that the cut-off date is 1st July so don’t delay if you don’t want to miss out on this great event. The possibility of attending the 40th Jubilee Celebrations of the Morgan Owners Group of Sweden in August 06 was also mentioned and several couples showed great interest. Those of you who didn’t attend, please take note!

The East Wales noggin was again better attended than the main noggin and visitors John & Avril and Chris & Helen said they thoroughly enjoyed the company and the food. It seems obvious now that Llanharan can’t compete and we desperately need a new venue. Talking about food at Usk, one couple – who shall remain nameless - left without paying for their meals. I assure you that it was a stress-related senior moment and the culprits have owned up. No doubt those members in the know will make sure it doesn’t happen again and that the couple concerned will be suitably and regularly embarrassed.

While performing my public-spirited duty as a car park patrol in The Beacons National Park on Saturday 14th May I came across a group of parked Morgans and was initially afraid that Taffmog had gone for a run without telling the hon sec. How could they?  On closer inspection it turned out to be a lovely group of enthusiasts from Spotmog on their Big Pit weekend. They had ideal weather in which to enjoy our superb countryside, and no passports were asked for either!

The end of May sees 10 couples from Taffmog off to Fontevraud Abbey for 3 days where they will be joined by George & Thelma on their return from Sicily. Five of those couples are then heading over to Laon for the Classic Car weekend when we should meet up with Dave & Linda.



August 2005
June was an eventful month for Taffmog – in one more way than was wanted!
It began with 10 couples making their way independently to Fontevraud Abbey, the final resting place of Richard the Lionheart, Eleanor of Acquitaine and a few others, for three nights.  We were joined by George & Thelma who were still talking to each other after a couple of months (an eternity?) touring the continent in their camper, although George did seem to enjoy making an impression on one of the young waitresses in the restaurant opposite (Hocapontas as she was called by Caroline). Try as he might, Humphrey, the young pretender, had no success after George left.

Kevin celebrated his birthday on the Sunday and he duly treated us all to a drink – one drink and a packet of straws between us! (He’s English, by the way). Stuart and Jacky went home the following morning, not because of mean treatment by Kevin, but due to something called work. George and Thelma left to continue on their travels and Lyn and Elaine also left to travel further south to visit friends.

On the Tuesday it was Chris’s birthday – he’s older than Kevin and had been overheard saying that he was having trouble with his HORN. Apparently it was past it and so he was treated to a replacement. Although Helen bought a gateau and everyone was offered a slice, it must be said that Chris didn’t buy anyone a drink – and he’s Welsh!

Wednesday saw a parting of the ways with Colin & Vicky and Dave & Kay heading for home, Chris & Helen heading for Monet’s garden and the other 5 couples (Keith & Ronnie, Rob & Kay, Kevin & Helen, Humphrey & Caroline and Dianne and myself) making our way to Laon via a 2 night stopover at a sweet little town called Barbizon, just outside Fontainebleau.

A good first night was enjoyed by all, but we were devastated to find that between the 5 Morgans, 13 tyres had been slashed during the night. Talk about kicking someone when they’re down – the cost of replacement tyres was horrendous and each couple was charged a call-out fee, even though the garage was only called out once. We are at a complete loss to understand this whole episode in light of our collective pleasant experience of a warm welcome by the French over many hundreds of such nights. Needless to say, we wouldn’t have stayed the second night in this town but tyres for Keith & Ronnie’s Mog couldn’t be obtained until the following morning. We drew lots and each couple did a 11/2 hour watch throughout the second night. Eventually, we continued on to Laon where we met up with Lyn & Elaine and Dave & Linda, all the while convincing ourselves how lucky we were not to have suffered more severe damage.

The Circuit Historique de Laon was an enjoyable experience but with well over 500 cars involved, progress was slow and parking a nightmare. The second day was marred by heavy rain, as was the final run up to the ferries. Keith and Ronnie and Dave and Linda stayed on in France to continue their holidays.

The main noggin in Llanharan saw the first attendance by Sue & Nick Lewis and, as tradition would have it, theirs was the only Morgan in the car park. I trust that they felt welcome and although prior commitments will prevent them from attending the next few events, with luck they will become regular attendees.

The East Wales noggin also saw a couple for the first time. You guessed it – theirs was the only Mog in the car park. Tom & Jacky Kiralee have only been members of MSCC for 10 years while their 1975 +8 was being rebuilt and they, themselves, were building up the courage to face the regular Taffmoggers. They felt sufficiently welcomed to join us on the Longest Day run – their first of what we hope will be many.

Chris & Helen’s Longest Day run wasn’t held on the longest day, but then, it never is. It was on Father’s Day instead. Although Avril Beskeen and Helen Hare had threatened to attend in John’s other Morgan while he and Kevin were away playing in Le Mans, on the day they preferred to have a lie in. However, Avril’s beauty sleep was disrupted by Chris who phoned her at some un-Godly hour. Her response cannot be repeated here. 12 Morgans converged on the Canal Basin at Brecon, from whence the convoy proceeded to the Craft Centre at Erwood for coffee. Then it was a super run to Powys Castle for lunch and a few hours at leisure to enjoy this wonderful National Trust property with its Clive of India museum and superb gardens. Again, the weather was to turn against us on the way home and those of us without umbrellas were forced to put the hoods up. Thank you Chris and Helen for organising this super day out.

At the time of writing, there are still some rooms available for the Taffmog Christmas Weekend. So, if you haven’t yet paid your deposit and wish to join us, please contact me ASAP.



September 2005
Both the main and the East Wales noggins were well attended in July and in each case, most people turned up in their Morgans. Tom and Jacky Kiraly couldn’t manage the East Wales event but I don’t think it was due to their enjoyment of the prize they won on the Longest Day run – a bottle of vodka. Humphrey and Caroline, however, turned up for two noggins albeit at the same venue, but only one on the correct night. What do you expect if you don’t bother opening Miscellany, let alone reading it?

There was a conflict of interest at the beginning of the month - camping or Madresfield? Four couples went camping to Disserth for the weekend, 3 pairs of Puckers (Kev & Helen, Keith & Ronnie and Lyn & Elaine) and the hardy Haydn & Dianne in their toy tent. Now don’t knock these Pucks. Small they may be, on the outside, but they have these amazing Tardis-like inners. Although, in our eyes our partners are still the same petite young beauties we fell in love with, the reality, it must be said, is a little different! However, 8 of us fully-grown adults fitted into one Puck with sufficient room to raise and lower the drinking arms. Being considerate to others is part of the Taffmog way of life and so it was no small surprise the following morning, to hear undertones of complaint about noise from the BMW biking fraternity at the other end of the field. Having said that, the weekend was a great success. And we’re even allowed back on the site in the near future, for the Llandrindod Wells Victorian Festival over the August Bank Holiday! Thanks for the organisation, Kev and the scenic runs. While this was going on, a few lonely souls, Chris Morgan and John Beskeen made their way to Madresfield where they met up with the notorious Geoff Tipler, 2 times winner of the +8 event. All the house modernisation must have taken its toll (unless, of course, it’s an age thing!) because he couldn’t manage to keep it up this year!

After my whingeing last month about being ripped off in France, I must put the record straight. Green Flag have assured us that we were charged the correct price for the Michelins, although they didn’t comment about everyone paying a call-out charge. It really can be cheaper to live in Britain!

There is now another pair of Puckers in Taffmog, with Haydn and Dianne having acquired one of those little horse-boxes with windows! Now there are six, but will we become a Magnificent 7?

A good number of Taffmoggers are due to attend Mog MMV at Gaydon and look forward to meeting friends old and new.

The Taffmog Christmas weekend is now fully subscribed and participants will receive info by mail in early September.



October 2005
A big Welsh ‘Thank You’ to the organisers of MOG MMV. The large Taffmog contingent thoroughly enjoyed themselves, split as they were between a B & B, a couple of hotels and the hardy campers. John Beskeen had worked very hard for the Concourse competition and did himself proud, winning his class and gaining 3rd overall. (There is no truth at all in the rumour that he lost critical points for his wheels – which Avril had helped with). Congratulations from everyone at Taffmog. We were all very pleased to see Mel & Mo there on the Sunday, together with Adrian & Jayne. It was the longest trip Mel has managed for some time and he was absolutely thrilled at the welcome he received. Let’s hope we see more of him in the near future.

We’re also looking forward to seeing Garry & Kath Williams on runs before long. Garry enjoyed his recent holiday on the Norfolk Broads and managed to do some sailing with Denis – brave or what? However, he’s been back in hospital since and Kath says that he can hardly wait to get back in the Mog now that it’s had lots of nice work done on it by Kevin.

With many members on holiday, the main noggin in August was not well attended, although we did meet Bruce & Diane Grant for the first time. They’ve recently got a 1980 4-seater on the road and proudly brought it along. Chris also proudly presented his new +4 and was brave enough to hand the keys over to Dianne and myself to try it out. Of course he knew there were no cathedrals nearby! As usual, the Usk noggin was very well attended.

Ivor & Alison’s runs are always popular and 14th August was no exception. 14 Mogs turned up in anticipation of what was to be an excellent day. A lovely run, reserved parking at a butterfly farm where the proprietor was most enthusiastic and informative followed by the cream tea to end all cream teas. Ivor had been unable to locate anywhere that was doing cream teas so he spent many hours in the kitchen making the scones with his own fair hand. Clotted cream was in abundance, so was the jam – lovely! Thank you both, but you may have made a rod for your own backs.

4 out of the 6 pairs of Taffmog Puckers descended on Disserth, together with John & Avril and their trailer tent for the Llandrindod Wells Victorian Festival. John was overheard saying that he should have had a trial erection before leaving home. The pure in heart will understand that he was talking about his new gazebo. The Saturday was taken up by Kevin’s run around the Elan Valley with a picnic lunch then to Tregaron  and on to  Strata Florida for Stuart to have a look around another grave-yard. Then it was back to the camp-site via Llyn Brianne for a BBQ. The evening culminated in one of Kevin’s famous quizzes. Everyone in the bar took part, including the South Wales TR group and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Taffmog prevailed with the winning team of Stuart, Lyn and Elaine.

Sunday morning saw the ladies attired in Victorian costume, together with Lyn Eade and John Beskeen appropriately dressed. Very smart they looked too. The other men chickened out. We were met by George & Thelma and Keith & Brenda in town where the ladies joined the suffragette march and listened to a moving speech by Mrs. Pankhurst herself. In the evening we went for a curry before the magnificent firework display over the lake. It appears that Kevin had Lyn’s Vindaloo and his nose was running before he started eating it. The seating was a little cramped but was that the reason Jacky told Stuart to give Kevin a few inches? While striking camp on the Monday morning Kevin was filmed packing away his awning and this is now being turned into an instructional documentary for the Caravan Club. Thanks to Kevin and Helen for organising another super week-end.

The end of the month sees quite a crowd of Taffmoggers travelling north for the Morgans at Windermere week-end - more of that next month.



November 2005
First let me say a big thank you to Mary & Peter Pattinson and everyone else from Fellmog who organised another super weekend at Windermere. Mary was quite unperturbed when both Dianne & myself and Humphrey & Caroline turned up without having registered, immediately sorting out all arrangements. In our case, the letter had gone adrift in the post. Unfortunately, in the case of Humphrey & Caroline it was their minds that had malfunctioned. Dianne and I took the scenic route to Windermere, via Chester with George and Thelma and we enjoyed our stay there, walking the walls and viewing this historic city. There was a good turnout from Taffmog at this event, which also included Neil & Helen Griffiths, Chris & Helen Morgan, the honorary Taffmoggers, John & Margaret Bullen and eventually Ivor & Alison Lorch. They had snapped a clutch cable on the way and were extremely grateful to Rutherfords who agreed to stay open for them to collect a new cable. Ivor had to stop the engine to engage reverse gear but on the Saturday morning Andrew Hirst, with his trusty tools, made the necessary fine adjustment. There was a choice of runs on the Saturday and all Taffmoggers opted for the same run, accompanying Andrew and Bob Winch on the Journey to the Centre of the Earth (well Britain anyway)!

The first weekend in September saw four of the Taffmog Puckers (Keith &Ronnie, Lyn & Elaine, Stuart & Jackie and Dianne and myself) camping at Hereford. We enjoyed our visit to the Ludlow Food and Wine Fair on the Saturday and feel that this could become a regular Taffmog event.

The 25th Vintage & Specialist Rally in aid of leukaemia research, held at Tredegar Park on September 18th was very well attended and the Morgan stand stood out with our gazebo again resplendent. The weather was extremely kind to us and after the event a crowd of us made our way to Stuart & Jackie’s for the BBQ that Jackie had been preparing all day. Thanks again Jackie, it was very much enjoyed and appreciated by us all.

The previous day had been the Leukaemia Research Classic Car Run and Dianne & I were the only Taffmoggers participating. We left home in Brecon at 7.30a.m. for the drive to Tredegar House in Newport, only to be given a route map that took us back to Brecon! Just as well we like the place.

Keith & Brenda’s run on the 25th was also well attended. We met at the Three Salmons, Usk for coffee, where we were handed a route by Keith. This was obviously going to be a more comfortable trip than the usual where we have to keep the car behind in view. It’s just a pity that Keith confused his right with his left very early on. However we all did reach the lunchtime rendezvous at Weston’s Cider Farm where we bumped into the Three Wheeler Club. Great minds or what? I don’t think any of the ladies in our party will be drinking cider again after their comments on the condition of apples in the hopper. They don’t appreciate that it all adds to the flavour. The run then continued to the Dean Heritage Centre where we enjoyed the usual cream tea. Humphrey & Caroline arrived just as the rest of us were about to make our way home, with some story about helping a maiden in distress. It was more likely that they got carried away with driving their newly acquired +8 with which they are both thrilled.

If you haven’t sent me the balance for the Christmas weekend by the time you read this, you’re blacklisted – if I’m allowed to say that.

Please note that for one month only, November, the main noggin will be at a different venue – The THREE HORSESHOES at Peterstone-Super-Ely. The food there is very good with a wide choice and excellent service. The December noggin will be hosted by Kevin and Helen at their home – with any luck Kevin will have finished work on the kitchen. The January Noggin will return to the High Corner House Hotel in Llanharan for our AGM and planning for the year ahead.

Last year the East Wales group had a very successful Christmas meal and get-together at the Con Club, Usk and this will be repeated this year on Wednesday, December 21st. All are welcome to join us, please contact Jackie who will be making the arrangements.





December 2005
October was a relatively quiet month for Taffmog as we wind down for the end of the year. The only run was that organised by George & Thelma. It wasn’t just a run, of course, but a weekend as usual, with the associated research and hard work that is essential for such an event. Friday, 8th October saw Keith & Brenda Glover, Brian & Molly Parsons with Bob, Colin & Vicky Clement, Humphrey & Caroline Glynternick, Dianne and myself joining George & Thelma at the Bateman Arms, Shobdon in plenty of time for pre-dinner drinks. Owing to pressures of work, Jackie & Stuart Hunt arrived considerably later.

The following morning we were joined by John & Avril Beskeen and Rob & Kay West who had the courtesy to turn up in the +8 instead of that old Cobra thingy.
The weather was a bit of a let-down on the Saturday with poor visibility preventing Brenda from flying a Cessna. It seems strange that Keith would encourage her to do that but not let her get behind the wheel of the +8.

We enjoyed a conducted and well-informed tour of the hangar at Shobdon airfield before making our way to Craven Arms. There, a group of us visited the Lost Content Museum, which was superb. It conjured up so many different memories for each of us and is well worth a visit. Others enjoyed their visit to the Secret Hills Discovery Centre, where Stuart & Jackie won a prize for their completed questionnaire. On the way back to the Bateman’s Arms we called in to Shobdon Church, which has a uniquely painted blue & white interior.

After the usual hearty breakfast on the Sunday it was off to Presteigne and the Judges’ Lodgings, which was another fascinating museum. The vintage Sports Car Club also had a meeting at Presteigne that weekend and we all enjoyed seeing and hearing them around the town. The weekend ended with another superb lunch at a working farm in Thruxton. Thanks to George & Thelma for another excellent weekend, enjoyed by all.

October 15th saw Dianne and myself heading up to Mike Duncan’s to look at the +8s only to find the garage closed! However, it wasn’t a complete waste of a day since we called in at George & Thelma’s on the way home where we were treated to a good look at his newly acquired 3-wheeler. They’ll have a lot of fun in this – once Thelma has worked out how to get in!

Don’t forget that the December noggin is at Kev & Helen’s on Dec 8th and there’s the traditional East Wales Christmas get-together at the Con Club in Usk on Dec 21st. Please contact Jackie if you intend coming along. We’ve enjoyed a wide variety of events this year and I’m hoping that members will be keen to organise interesting runs/weekends next year. You will all be encouraged to do your bit at the AGM at High Corner House Hotel, Llanharan on January 12th.