WTF (What the freak) is this blog about?

Well, the blog is about my attempts (weak and strong) to get hold of a particular double-decker bus which is in Santa Rosa, California. It's a Regent Low Height (RLH) and it's number is 3... RLH 3... it's only one of 76 built way back in 1950 and is very important to me (and luckily, my family) to rescue from possible scrapping or being carved up to accommodate a coffee shop or restaurant making it impossible to eventually restore.

That, and my occasional ramblings and rantings.
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So, you ARE cyber begging, you weenie!

No... not really. I mean, if the question was, "Would you turn down the bus if someone offered it to you?" or, "Would you say no if someone offered you enough cash to make it happen?"... the answer is OF COURSE I WOULD SAY YES! (...and thank you.)

...but I live in the real world... and don't believe in "something for nothing".

So, what I'm doing REALLY is throwing it out there... seeing if anyone has any ideas of how I could make the dream happen? What could I do to try and make this a reality?

The one idea I've had is sell advertising space as it's shipped (from California to Toronto)... but that's about it so far. Perhaps someone has any other ideas. (Go to the main site and click on "Bus Advertising Idea..." for information on the ad idea...)

OF COURSE, before you write... YES, I am working at saving up enough bones to make it happen through my own sweat and labour... but with my (lack of) pay as a temp file clerk and looking after a family, it's a given the buses will be dust-of-rust or sold off to either be scrapped or carved up to become pseudo-trendy coffee shops before I would be able to afford one... and yes, of course, I'm trying to improve my own financial/income situation and perhaps it will get better... but for now, I know that the dreams won't happen for a LONG, long time without some sort of help or ideas.

...and yes, I spend $11.00 per week on lottery tickets... some call this a "Tax on Stupidity", but I've always preferred the BBC's version of this calling it a "Tax on Dreams"... far more euphemistic! ...and yes, I do know that SAVING $11.00 per week would pay for the buses over a LONG time... but again, dust-of-rust or...

...and no, I won't do anything illegal.

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I know where you can buy a bus!

Thanks, but there's a specific bus I'm looking at for excellent reasons. Although there are always buses for sale somewhere (rarely cheaper), this bus is "in my sights" for a reason. (See below...)
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So, what's so special about THAT bus?

Okay... there's a LONG story about RLH 3 in Santa Rosa, California... it's got a MAJOR connection to me personally... it's owner(s) will PROBABLY part with the bus for $8,000.00 USD and it will require about $12,000.00 to ship the bus to Toronto. Here's a picture of that bus...

The short version is that THIS bus has a fascinating story... and shares a lot with it's life and mine... and has been "adopted" as a favourite bus by my whole family... There's more details about it on the "Advertising" page on the main site.

She's not running, but that MIGHT be fixable without too much pain... and for me, it would be a pleasure and dream to work on her.
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Wasn't this stupidity in the Toronto Star where they called you a cyber-panhandler and more-or-less mocked two groups you work with?

Sorta and ARRGH!

The Star hatcheted me... they skewed and mocked... and I'm really unhappy. They made the two groups (IMUC/MRSC and PSICAN) sound like fictional groups (they are not) and myself sound like a beggar looking for money only.

I believe they referred to my site as "A Website Where You Can Throw Away Your Money".

Nonsense and I'm really upset about it and trashed my original site due to the volume of legitimate hate mail I got because of it.
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So what are you going to do with the bus?

After a bit of discussion, the decision has been made (by my wife and myself) to do the best of both worlds.

Right now, we'd repair it to running order and very gently (without major "renovations" or carving the bus up, convert it into a day trip vehicle for family and friends...

THEN...

As a personal "retirement" project, or when it was no longer practical to "run", we would completely restore it to it's original "London Transport" look and feel... as best we can at least... and hope it's either taken up by...

#1: Someone who's an enthusiast/preservationist who'd keep it running.
#2: A local museum that will keep it running.

Either way, we believe that it should remain running, useful, and (for lack of a better term,) loved.
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So, you want to sell ads on the bus?

No... I'd like to keep the project (once it's obtained) as non-commercial as possible... I am, however, trying to sell "pixel ads" to gain the money needed to obtain the bus... and even an extra $7k for refurbishments.

See HelpCoverTheBus.Com for details...
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Are you going to run tours and charters with the bus?

No... it's not going to be a real money-maker... and tours and whatnot are not economically viable for us due to insurance and other issues.

...and honestly, we don't want to do that until it's completely restored later on down the road... and by that point, we hope someone (some group/some organisation) will do that.
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Hey! You can't move/drive something that tall! Your ad scheme won't work because of this!

Actually, the bus is below the "maximum height" limits in Ontario and most of North America... with few exceptions. The bus was moved to where it is now the same way I intend to move it here... it's do-able and even been done before... mind you, going East to West rather than back, but hey, it can be done legally!

The bus is NOT considered "over height" or "oversized" for Ontario, Canada... and taller/larger buses (Routemasters for example) have been successfully shipped on trains/trucks across North America without issue.
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You're a geek and the bus is weird.

Yes? Your point?

Hey, if nothing else... pity my wife and kid!

Granted, they've been extremely helpful and do take my passion with élan! My little one even named RLH 3 "Chitty-Chitty-Wump-Wump" for the sound she thinks the engine might make.
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Do you REALLY think you'll be successful?

Well, there's two possibilities...

If I don't try, I will definitely not succeed.

I can try (as I'm doing) and perhaps I might succeed.

The latter sounds more appealing.

Realistically, I don't know... but I do know if I give up, I won't succeed.

My mother always told me, "Ask. The worst anyone can say to you if you ask is no." and I kinda live by that credo.

So if I do fail, at least I can look in the mirror and say, "Hey, you tried!" which is better than looking in the mirror saying, "Wow! You gave up!"

I'm prepared for failure... and don't lose sleep over the prospect... but I keep on tryin' 'cuz if I succeed, a dream will actually come true!

Okay, it's sloppy sentiment, but it's true!
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Okay, you got me and I want to help! What can I do?

Please e-mail me at matthew@doubledeckerbuses.org and tell me your ideas or let me know what you can do to help me out. I appreciate all input!

...or you can comment on this blog...

Either works!
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If you get this bus, will you stop the blog/site?

Yes and no...

*IF* RLH 3 was to "fall into my lap", I've stated that I would help one person (giving over some blog space?) try to get their dream vehicle... perhaps that's what this blog is all about?

I'll also maintain a blog/site with the progress of the bus...

Other than that, I'll stop DESPERATELY trying to draw attention to the bus and site/blog... and do my best to only continue to bother those who are interested ONLY...

...and probably continue to rant, rave, and ramble on the blog about everything else that gets my attention.
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What the heck is an FMS?

Frequently made suggestion... Hopefully, these will be suggestions on how to get buses and not "other" suggestions.
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Why do you make so many mistakes in spelling?

I do my best... and the ones most people see are the following...

sceptic - sKeptic with a "K" is the American spelling... and I'm in Canada.

realise - RealiZe with a "Z" is, again, the American spelling.

organise - OrganiZe... same thing.

colour - Yup, add the "U" and it's the British/Canadian spelling. This is also true for odour, neighbour, and several others.
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What the heck is the deal with the paranormal category???

My full-time, hair-pulling, stress-inducing hobby is being a paranormal investigator and researcher.

I'm the founder/director of The Toronto Ghosts and Hauntings Research Society (active since 1997).

I'm the co-founder/co-chair of PSICAN (Paranormal Studies and Investigations Canada) with my wife.

Oh, and before you think either one of us was "dragged" into a study by the other, nope... we met THROUGH the study!

Anyway, the groups are more-or-less highly respected... and loathed and hated... for the same reasons. We're TRUE sceptics... meaning we "doubt" and demand better evidence before marrying ourselves to any faith or belief in the paranormal... or marrying ourselves to any non-faith or non-belief in the paranormal.

The word "sceptic" has been usurped by non-believers to "soften" their image... but blind faith AND blind lack-of-faith based in zero study and zero facts is equally as bad.

Anyway, because of this hobby, I'm apt to rant about my pet topic a few times...
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All Your Bus Are Belong To Us!

Wow! Is it Y2K or 2001 again? How come I'm not at my old office? If this was true, considering my OLD pay, I'll have the bus in about three months!