What is a Van (Compact)- 'A Once Upon a Time Story'

What is a Van.?

When I stop at a junction to a major road and watch, in particular, for Vans (Compacts) passing by, in these modern times.they are mostly of a similar and familiar profile. Vans ; RV's ;Special vehicles et al

There was pause in the traffic flow.and like many past stories,we will start with a "Once Upon a Time", something like the mid sixties. 

As I recall, it was the  Dorchester Hotel, London England and the top Chrysler Corporation executives had gathered to discuss the Marketing  Strategies and advertising Worldwide of  Vans or Compacts as the Americans called them.

I was with my American Strategies boss and we listened to the discussions of various makers and their  vehicles pros and con's as advertised. A very mixed bag, that's for sure. Obviously very frustrated, the CEO Mr John Ricardo, said something like "We are getting, no where".

My boss, stood up and said  ---- " I have a man who would like to address the meeting ---No warning of what he was going to do. Hell, I'm dead, I thought. OK said the big boss (CEO) come up here ------I stood looking at the audience, just like I did many  years  before as a Head Boy at school, when the Headmaster required me the read the lessons  at assembly, Ah, my first captive audience,I never looked back.

As I recall at 89, I said , "WHAT IS A VAN",What does the World want, as a base specification.- Forward control or semi forward. What motors and transmissions. The position of the wheels and axles and most importantly, the shape of the body and wheel bases.

OK young man, we get the message.--tomorrow we need to establish a 'World Survey' by the best market research company, to report in six months!. A copy of that first report, I have somewhere. The report that changed the VAN World forever.

I must at this point ,remind readers,that my blogs are 'Stories Based on Facts as I Remember Them'. At 89 I am open to corrections, well maybe!!!.

Those executives, of course, went on to other matters, when my boss and I and others had left the room.

So, what where those executives really talking about - the vehicles I mean

USA. A good forward control vehicle, competing manly in a Ute market

British Motor Corporation (BMC). Mainly the J4, which did very well as an ambulance vehicle, particularly later when converted front forward control to semi. Still operating!!.

Toyota. Hi Ace, a very popular  forward control vehicle, up until quite recently. The original version was based on the above vehicle the BMC J4. complete with the J4 chassis problems, which they quickly corrected.  I recall driving one of he first ones, and reported with two words "OH Dear"!.

 Citroen. The 'dust bin?, yes but it had a lot of the parameters that was to come.

Mercedes Benz, IVECO and others were yet to arrive

Back to the Future---

Returning to that major road junction , we see that now familiar shape, lots of sizes, of course, many with Air conditioning ;Sat-Nav as standard;plus all modern blue, telephone links etc.

The first rather crudely, the BMC J4, so popular as an ambulance. Along came Renualt; Citroen; Mercedes Benz; VW; IVECO; fineley Toyota got the message and strangely enough, Chrysler.

Right now the Chinese have joined in the frey, electronics good. Suspension,and body finish, snd Lighting, needing a lot of attention.

These new Vans are most popular as RV's with every conceavable gajet .

Ambulances, particularly Mercedes around the World. In Australia they insist on 60psi tyre pressures, which I object to - The ride can be terrible, I know I have been in the things. I believe 50psi is enough.

Wunderfully the World now has a superb VAN design strategy, for the future. All stemming from that Chrysler Executive meeting so long agoe. "Unce Upon a Time".

My thoughts for the future is to go Electric, particularly,short distance delivery vehicles. As the load gets lighter,so it is easier on the batteries, like the very old milk trucks in the UK.

 All the best, to the new generation of designers,and developement engineers et al.

 Malcolm E Mason

 X@malcolnemason       Masonedgar@gmail.com

  

Knives and Controll there of.

Knives and Control there of.

For nearly a year now, I have been trying to get the Australian Prime Minister Mr Albanese, away from promoting our export of  Fossil Fuels, to the subject of Contolling the supply and sale of KNIVES of all kinds. Also to UK Prime Minister Mr Charmar.

Whilst more difficult, than  'Guns', it is possible. in this climate of persistant Stabbings here in Australia and the United Kingdom. .  Along the way copies went to our King - King Charles 111.

One state Premier (New South Wales) Mr Minns, introduced the clearance for police to check suspects, with hand held instruments readily available, in the security industry. Bless them. UK has introduced restrictions of 'Specialised Knives'  As good as they are,  they are far off the mark from Special/Industrial and Domestic versions.

It seems, every day we hear of stabbings and certainly persistant inclusion in film and tv programs.

I  am pleased. so far, but there is a log way to go'.

I do HOPE progress will be made.

Malcolm E Mason

Second Nation People (The Nation Builders):

See my blog www.thinktrue2008.blogspot.com  - From Whence I Came.

I am an advocate of One King; One Country; One Flag.    The three masts,  Australian Flag in the middle; the Aboriginal Flag on its right hand side and the Torres Straight on its left. People are getting the logical message

Hope fully the World will commence the control of knives. Fin- for now.!!

 

 

 

Anzac-Australia and World

2024. Easter, ANZAC, and present day, violence out of anger,is well and truely with us all.

First,before the main blog, I must insist, that X be used by the News Channels,such as TV; Radio and Press. We bloger's etc know this, but polies and the above, seem slow to adjust. (Twitter, no longer exsists). I have never had much time before for Mr Musk, but I can say his platform never interfere's with  my use of X and therefore I listen to his retoric.

There is a dispute over people,(X users) including violence on X's site. Mr Musk has a point as to is not complying on taking down recent violent content- 'World wide'.keeping to the law for Australia only. Maybe just maybe, our mainstream channels don't like missing out on content.

They show visions, all the time of films of devastation and suffering in Gaza; Burma (I'm that old) etc. People should see the last scene's of the TV series -Happy Valley, where  the murderer, very graphicaly sets himself alight, screaming, which reminded me of the US using Flame Throwers in Viet- Nam  and others. The scene should have been pulled out. So should the brutal vision of a lady beatan up in exrtreme

At this time the Australian Prime Minister walked the KAKODA Track and would have passed the graves of  Japanese soldiers - Executed by Aussie  soldiers, ordered by senior officers. Saying we cannot take prisoners, take them into the bush and deal with them. Don't forget to bring back their TAGS. Please read my blog 'In Flanders Fields the Poppies blow'  

 Nov 2020  www.thinktrue2008.blogspot.com  Rays story,  a broken man for many years. Yes Mr Prime Minister   VIOLENCE.

So to ANZAC Cove etc. thought up by incompetent UK Generals- The wrong beach, with cliffs to climb, when were beaches not far away,with relatively level approaches The same sort of situation in Northern France, .

Brave Men and Women all. Lest we Forget, hopefully never

Bless them all, the Long and the short and the tall, We'll get no promotion this side of the Ocean, so cheer up my Lads Bless them ALL

The Bondi Juction killings and Lebonese Church attack plus others against Women in particular, all in volved KNIVES.. VIOLENCE that's for sure

I have asked a local MP Mr Michael Holland, to contact the Premier of NSW to start a Campaign for the Control and Liciencing of  Knives, as we have with Gun's.

I Quote my X o the subject. X@malcolmemason

"Australia - World - For Australia has done a good job with control of Guns of all kinds. It is time to do the same for Knives, by banning the sale in speaciality shops etc and the carrying thereof. .Liciences should be required similar to Guns."

Mr Holland is not particularly, pro active and aggressive  on none medical subjects.We can only hope, we can stem this violent trend..

We all have seen on TV the devastastion that is GAZA, violence by Israel that's for certain. The modern accurancy of missiles / drones etc. I wrote Senator PennyWong on matters pertaining. There were three subjects

1."Up Close and Personal

2. Brief Assessment of Israel's, Identify and Destroy.

3 ,  Never,travel in Hostile Territory, in Groups of more than TWO>

Oh yes 4. My efforts to get King CHARLES to establish a Pardon  List to include Julian Assange, as I did try with the late Queen Elisabeth.

I do hope she lets the Prime Minister, know my thoughts and experiences.

Indeed an angry World is upon us . I Hope, we can all assist in calming things down and showsolidarity to all people, that Australia was and is a sangtuary foe all. A place to enjoy a life, like no other.

Bless them all, the short and tall, as the old song goes!. 

 Kindest regards to all,of you.

Malcolm E Mason.

Notes;

My blogs and X's are stories based on facts,as I remember them.

 At 88 and still mentaly active,I have over the years I have sometimes thought I was and am, like a speck of sand trying to make my voice heard, against the winds of change, blowing over the desert sands.

OK three Airline crash's numerous conflicts and interrogaton  by the Vie Cong in Saigon, leaving me in ditch near the old Palace . My Governent (UK) did not want to know. We ave no operatives in Vet Nam said  a Mr ? in Parliament.

FIN -------for now .

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A Lady in a Doorway & Beyond'

 I am the third in the Trilogy ' A Lady in a Window' and 'An Eagle came  Flying By'.

The dear Lady in this trilogy, is now  in Respite care. Granted she had her own room, however she always had the feeling, she was in some sort of detention,as she was treated like the long term residents.

As we all know now, the log term residents.are quickly guided into ruteen's, of time for breakfast-  Lunch - Dinner and the regular tea trolley.They are guided out of their rooms by staff, who are not always well trained and can antagonize the Respite residents.and visitors.

Two incidents accurred

 1The Ladies husband was leaving on a week end and was confronted by a  woman and asked where was going and what was my name and stood in my way to the door. A voice from some where said its Mr Mason and OK. The Woman stood aside. 2. A lady visitor again on a weekend (The Ladies Yoga teacher) was not allowed in. The Manager was approached the next weekday and advised he should not use untrained Pacific temporary staff as Security guards. He listened. (Opal Care)

Thus our Lady in a Doorway, continued to feel , a prisoner and the husband said enough is enough and took her home.

Strange at first, thankfully now fully recovered physically,but the experience will last some time. A\The time when she could not function, regarding Eating; Speaking and getting around  plus a short time Deliriem

There is course an ending to all stories, for the moment any way.

In supermarket concourse, there are two bench seats where the husband noticed a lady they knew,siting quietly. She too,had been very ill, so he said hello, young lady and she gave that look of older ladies to old  blokes being silly. He said his wife had gone off with a chap,so he thought why not give it a try

Huh, her husband returned and said hello. The Lady came out in due course and a good chat was had by the group of four. Fear not this was not the end of this story

A gentleman came passing by the very one who was so patient in getting The Lady to decide what she would have for dinner etc.. Then we met ward assistant,who came up to The Lady and said my goodness look at you, wonderful or some such word.

The husbands were of course very tired from the experience of their wives illness's.

Goodness out side The Lady met a other friend and so the group all went home, tired and happy at a good ending  to all the trauma's

The Hospital where they performed so well was the Batemans Bay Hospital, currently indicating they are to shut down the Emergency Department.Oh, that place saved the husband when he was ill and with this story saved the life of The Lady TWICE.

Glory be. Carpe' Diem , (every one.Seize the Day) everyone

Most in their eighties, and faithful to the end , which is not too far away.

Malcolm E Mason

Mogood, NSW  2538 Australia 

 X@malcolmemason