Where are we going as collectors? Are we content to be swept along with this great tidal wave of never-ending price records - and never question the reason behind the phenomenon? Don't we care about the direction in which we are being taken - or the motive forces being applied? Will tomorrow always turn out sunnier than today? Will house prices always rise? Will refugees from the Stock Market begin to realize that you need to sit on a Railwayana purchase at auction for at least five years before turning a profit. Most auctioneers won't want it back any sooner - and, of course, there will be costs to recover.

Many collectors are questioning the state of the market - and wondering about their ability to continue collecting. It may well be sensible for some to withdraw completely - even to the extent of disposing of their entire collection and turning their attention elsewhere. If your hobby causes you distress, it is no longer a worthwhile pastime.

It is not only Railwayana that suffers from such pressures; and not only in the UK either. We recommend that you read the latest press release from the USA that we have included in this issue. Their classification of collectors is right on the button - and we can recognize every one of them amongst our readership.

Another point strongly made from across the Atlantic is the power of Clubs in convincing bureaucracy of the need to act - and individuals to conform to acceptable trading practices. We have been giving a great deal of thought to the impasse we have reached with British Transport Police and have reluctantly come to the conclusion that they consider our collecting interest to have no important voice (or champion) since we appear a disparate bunch with no real interest in exhibiting a united front. They may even consider a lot of the dealings taking place in car parks as suspect!

We have mentioned before the financial realities of running this magazine. Where previously the integral auction had assisted with costs, we made a decision to cut that cross-holding to ensure neutrality in the reporting of all auction activity. We are therefore disappointed to note that one of the major auctions has decided that - despite many years of support from this Journal, which has undeniably assisted them in reaching their current heights (and profitability) - they no longer need to advertise their events in our pages and thus deprive us of much-needed revenue. In reporting their results, we provide six pages of copy (and publicity) three times a year. Since some of our readers believe that too much space is assigned for such purposes, perhaps we should reconsider our reportage pro rata?

And, talking about auctions, did you know anything about Bonhams in Knowle on October 9? They sent us a postcard second class on October 1 (as "advance notice"?). Nothing heard previously, no advice for Diary of Events. What a way to run a business. That is to say nothing about obligations to vendors. Yes, auctioneers, you do have certain obligations and responsibilities, which must form part of your public relations - and which should be considered before pure profit motivation.

In answer to the kind enquiries, the first phase of Henry's move (with the publisher) to Normandy has been accomplished with very few problems. France Telecom have provided a new telephone line at very short notice and we hope to be fully operational again very soon. This issue has had to be assembled in temporary accommodation and we will be unable to make as many visits to the events this winter as we would like. E-mail will be our lifeline and we will welcome all your news at rcj@prorail.co.uk. The next issue of RCJ will be in January; a Talisman Catalogue in December.