A final Xmas present

Dawn broke an I could see the drive starting to get full again.

Early trip in the van planned - so off to Harkstead. Here we are in the cold.

Note no bubble in that large empty garage this year. Off to the Food Hall for breakfast and then back later.

Finally PM run back to Harkstead in the SAAB with everyone for Birthday tea and cake. Cold and dark when we left though.

However the good news is that the replacement voltage regulator arrived. So that's my Xmas sorted.

Lets hope the wires are the same colours ...

Wood-Man and a Man with a Van

Well more a large tipper truck. 

AM waiting for the wood delivery only to find it turning up with the Passat and family.

He squeezed in nicely and tipped it close to the wood store - so an hour later it was all packed away. We dragged the trailer back too.

Then we went off to get the van, just to fit in.

I'd forgotten how uncomfortable it is - mind you I'd just been packing wood for an hour before.

Trailer Trashed ?

I started by moving the trailer out of the wood pile working area - where it has been sitting for for almost 8 months. I needed to get it out of the way as we have wood being delivered tomorrow morning.

Looking closely at the back where the manure had been leaking, it looks like the hinges and the lights may be shot. I'll have to give it a deep clean and test them when it eventually gets emptied. 

Any guesses when that might be ?

I was actually working on the garage though and started by fitting a longer bottom catch so it won't slam shut (or open) now. I also changed over the hinges - back to match the existing ones. They are a bit bright but they will weather over the Winter.

Finally I took the SAAB to get it washed. It looked like the aliens were watching me in there.

Then fuel topped up too. Se we'll all ready for driving over Christmas.

Finally MK7 tyres checked and inflated. Not down much but then again down enough to trigger the warning system.

That pump is great.

ION: Someone will not be 'Driving Home for Christmas' any more though - Chris Rea died today.

Again ?

AM housework and then as a reward PM a run in the SAAB to Harkstead.

What joy.

Night Run

It started as an afternoon run - just jobs off to Stutton.

By the time I left though it was very dark - but we still went around the block the long way to give the car a bit of a warmth.

Back Home - Both Ways

Run back in the MK7 (I drove) quite acceptable in the morning Sun - going the right way of course - out of London.

On the way home we got another request for help. More broken tech in Harkstead. So there I went again as my first job after unpacking.

So back to the grind in the blink of an eye. That done the roads looked dry and clean - so get a a car out for a blast ? No just pottering. I did pop to the garage though and fit these outer filters to the original bubble.

Not sure where the old ones went though - I thought only one pair had deteriorated ?

Two Ians, Movies and that Merc

I had an email first thing from Ian Potts saying the Talbot regulator was toast - good. So that might be my first job in the New Year when the replacement arrives. 

Then before I could leave Ian Polson also phoned - he'd got he letters and would try to put them in order for me. Nice I thought.

Then we started out to the Tube by foot - in the pouring rain - past the MGC that looks sadder each time we visit London.

It is still missing its badges and had a broken reversing light as well this time. Anyway we walked on and then jumped onto the bus - as it really was raining very hard - to get a lift to the tube. Off to the Design Museum (Walk/Bus/Tube/Tube/Walk) and the Wes Anderson exhibition of his film props. Not many cars in the collection but a few nice pictures. I spotted a DS in the poster though.

Back by same route - less rain this time though.

Late evening out walking again - this time off to eat - and past the Mercedes that had moved a few parking spaces up the road.

It turned out to be a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 3000. So a few years to go before it can avoid the ULEZ.