Moving them Back

Roof on and shed first coat painted. Looking good.

Then MK2 Golf back.

Than van back to Stutton too. 

Such excitement.

Pump up the 'Modern'

AM Admin - gosh what a lot there is. Insurance sorted and the news on the Talbot is 'probably next week'. As to the Alpine - not so good - Coltec can't find a steering box - so I'll start to ask around.

PM a walk to Harkstead to collect the van etc.

Back home I remembered to do the SAAB tyre at last.

The sun had gone in and I had no energy for a run in anything - so just left everything alone.

Although the SAAB did the village bottle bank run. Exciting stuff.

Short SAAB Shuffle

So working all day on the shed again - instead of running around in the classic in the sunshine - should I have bought one ? A shed I mean.

Anyway - somehow I ran out of wood again - so B&Q - again.

That's twice I've also forgotten to pump the flat tyre up. I must do it tomorrow.

ION: Who blinked ? There seems to be a sudden ceasefire - that's good. However someone forget to tell Israel and Hezbollah it appears.

G, G, G and an unexpected S

I started the day with a ride in the MK7 to meet the Stutton offshoot for a walk. Then a MK2 run to Harkstead for jobs and a drop off.

Post lunch back to the new shed - but punctuated by yet another Harkstead run.

I think I was 6 inches to the left that time. After five hours of wood work it was getting there but I needed more wood. So a late SAAB run to B&Q of course - ready for work tomorrow.

Business as usual basically.

ION: Donald Trump warns "a whole civilisation will die tonight". So everyone is holding their breath - waiting for TACO ?

Almost Nought

Watched the big blue monster leave AM.

Then moved the MK2 a few feet.

After working on the new shed I moved it back. That was that.

A Van day - Again

 A run to Harkstead to pick up the passenger and some equipment.

Then after lunch back again for the drop off. Followed by the walk home and then SAAB run to take equipment back.

And that was that - chinks of Spring in the air though and warmer weather to come...

ION: In not very presidential language... Trump says: "Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah. President DONALD J. TRUMP"

Coasting Along

SAAB dash to Harkstead first thing for jobs and then we headed to Aldeburgh with everyone (passing a couple of cars bound for Ufford). We parked in the same place as two years ago with the Ferrari etc.

But this time with less worry. Then on walk into town I spotted this 'Red on Red' combo.

Was it just a coincidence ? Anyway run back uneventful although I did spot two of the Ufford cars coming home. Finally odd to see the big blue monster on the drive again.

But that's progress.

Somewhere Down There

SAAB out AM for a Uber collection and then run to the Naze Tower. The roads were full of potholes on the run there - past the chicken farm where the Alpine was. Here we are below.

Well somewhere down there. Next to the green car. 

Then back home and later a quick run to Stutton in Mr. E.

Run around the block after that was all.

Busy Bee

A bit of a shock to see the Golf on the lawn but it was outside all night - but it's quite warm so not even covered in dew.

The reason was to clear the space for shed work today.

Just 500 yards in the SAAB for drugs - and then a Golf Mk2 run to Harkstead.

On the way back the radio was playing up - the buttons stopped working and it just died on and off. Odd again.

Finally a MK7 ride into town and back in the cold gloom.

More Fuel Please

Up early and alert for the wood delivery. Or as it turned out not that alert as it sneaked into the drive when I was not looking. 

He turned round fine too.

So what of me ? I moved the wood under cover (that was heavy) and looked at the skies.

After lunch it was Ferrari time.

Still looked good after the clean.

A few small 'pops' on start up, but running very well when I went to fill her up. No E5 at the petrol station though - the shape of things to come ? - or is it just Harvest selling out quickly as usual.

Was there a slight whiff of petrol ? A slight odour perhaps - but only once I was following an old transit van. Putting it away though I noticed it was still dirty on the sill and I seem to have a slight dent too by the badge ? Odd.

Then strait after that the E-type too.

A bit dusty but going well - a couple of slight 'stutters' though. Get that service in soon.

Finally RGEA in the evening so ... MK2 got a run out. There was also a few Rootes cars braving the cold - I liked this Superminx.

But if I know the owner it is not 'stock' under the bonnet.

That reminds me I must find out what's going on with the Alpine ...

ION: Two types of launches today.

Missiles from US war ships and at 11.24pm UK time Artemis II launched taking four astronauts to the far side of the Moon: further away from Earth than anyone has ever been. There is a joke in there somewhere.

Brick Garage Buddies

A dull dreary day - with the odd shower. However it was another full day on the Archive with John Polson. Still no clues to the aluminum blocks but I found a few interesting things. Here is an odd old negative that was in a box.

John said the Talbot will be looked at 'when they have time'. OK - I'm not in a hurry at the moment. So other than that it was just taking the miles as it was the end of the month. So what did that tell us ?

Well the Ferrari/Talbot tag teem seems to have done well - almost 250 miles between them. The rest had a decent run too for March.

In late news though ...

Yep - SAAB to the local bottle bank - not that saving the planet is top of the agenda now.

ION: Trump now says as the USA has got lots of oil, Europe can go and sort out the supply though the Strait of Hormuz itself. The effect is that jet fuel prices have doubled, oil tankers with diesel are turning around and going back to the US, whilst LNG tankers re-route to the Far East where prices are higher. The EU is talking about trying to "curb oil demand and prepare for prolonged disruption". We're going to enter a crisis as the fuel runs out. Three day weeks here we come. Who says the 1970's aren't back in fashion.

Third Time's a Charm

At last. A break in the clouds and after a few mins on the fan heater the Imp started quite easily.

It needs a clean and the paint chips doing but it's looking good. A nice run around the block too - although bumpy as hell on our poor roads.

Then PM SAAB off to Harkstead for jobs.

Back again as the rain came back too.

At least we'd got the run in earlier.

Not even starting

We spent all the morning putting the soil sorter back together. I was using the socket set at least.

As we worked I was heating the Imp again ready for a run but it took so long I abandoned that. Again.

I did see the Ferrari though - still looking clean.

Instead I took the SAAB out for a wash and fill up as we were quite low. Another £103 of the good stuff - expensive - especially as the price has gone up a lot again due to the continuing war. Four weeks and counting.

Then SAAB (in the drizzle) to another Stutton birthday. Twice as I'd forgotten my camera.

ION: Global economies are stuttering as Oil is getting scarce (so that means worries about petrol and diesel) and the price of everything is going to be rising rapidly again. Oh and then don't forget the knock on to some chemicals that are needed for food or medical uses. So there is a lot of talk about 'Boots on the ground' now .That is bound to go well.

Starting was All

Bloody cold start to the day and it just got colder.

I popped out to warm and then start the Imp though in preparation for a late PM run.

Before that though we a soil sifter to snaffle. Well collect from Norwich anyway.

Actually the run and location were strangely familiar. It turned out the road behind the workshop where we went to get Chris' Rapier soft top made. However we were there to collect this:

Yep - that's a soil sifter. Spot the drum we took off it to get it into the car ? The run back was fine - if a bit slow on the A140 - with all the chops and changes in speed limit and the new roundabouts.

Then hove via Stutton for Birthday cake.

So the Riley run ? You must be bloody joking it was far to cold by then. Perhaps tomorrow.

Seeing Double

Dull day and rain on the way so SAAB run into town instead of anything else.

Looking a bit scruffy.

I did do this though - a split screen saver with both views from yesterday.

Then PM 'Harkstead Calling' with tools so SAAB again.

Was that a 'Pop' ?

Frosty start but clear blue skies. Today's first task is to pack the blue bubble away - so Ferrari out. But first wait in for the cooker engineer ... so I bit the bullet and bought the wood for shed #5 and supports to extend the car port.

The cooker was fixed by 10:30 so I backed the car out, it was a little sluggish to start (it was bloody cold) and I'm sure gave me a little 'pop' to say hi.

Here it is through the bubble door with no frame up. It took just over 30 mins and it was all down and packed away. So next was a PM wash - well wet dust.

Here it is before the wash looking good, but we produced a large bucket of very dirty water from it in the end. Next I spotted the new garage doors were out of alignment so took the Aston out to to be safe before re-setting the hinges - again.

That done the Ferrari got its run around the block (no sound effects) and was packed away again.

Finally a quick SAAB dash to pick up the MK7.

That had just got new brakes and disks.

Watching the Sunshine

So the rain came - and went - very quickly leaving a blustery day and me watching the sun shine.

Eventually I gave in ...

... and took the Ferrari around the block again. It did give me a little 'pop' while it was warming up on the drive - but it went really well. I'll have to calculate how many miles it took to fail last time.

Calculating that evening it looks like it failed both times after about 450-500 miles. 

So lets burn some rubber.

Hello Boys

A dull dark windy day - so a bit of DIY AM was about it. I did visit the garage to say hello though.

I did a bit on the Archive but that was it. Rain on the way now so we'll just be looking.

I also noticed that it is quite relaxing not having too many cars ... with places for them all to go.

Every Day's a School Day

So it's 9:00 and I'm feeling more stressed than I should be. The Talbot was a bit hard to start even after three hours on the fan heater. Still feels like no fuel.

57 mile later we were at Polson's. I had been doing 60-65 on the A14 and it seemed fine - if a bit noisy - but then the windows were shut. Discussing the starting problem John thought it might be the points - one of the few things I'd not looked at.

I had a quick look at the Talbots in the show room but they seemed huge - Ian said they were the same wheelbase as TAS but I'm not convinced. What did catch my eye though was a lovely looking Delage.

A 1937 Delage D6 3-Litre in fact. I'd seen it on the website and thought it out of my price range but I don't think it was. Shame ... although from the rear it's not a pretty as the Imp with those oddly large front and rear wings.

Run back in the works van was uneventful but I learned that the 90 at TCMW is probably nearer £150k and not £300. The look at the archive by John was a bit unfruitful - although I did find some more photos myself.

Late PM I took out the Aston to save the planet. However I missed the bottle bank in Stutton due to the school traffic and there was no where to stop in Holbrook either so it was an abortive run. 

The SAAB had to step in an hour later when the traffic had cleared. 

So now we're two cars down - mind you the weather is turning cold and wet.

Huge Turnout

It was cold but bright so 'someone' set off to the boat with tools - whereas I pottered getting ready for the first ECR Shotley event. Until ... the ladders were needed - so an early SAAB run after all.

Then later off we went to Shotley again - this time in the E-Type though. It was packed by 11:30 and I was very near the back.

Some interesting cars, but of course not really any vintage ones, unless you count the Traction Avant.

This SAAB 99 caught my eye too.

That's two in two days. Home again and it was too nice an afternoon not to get something else out. So what ? The Ferrari again I guess.

I must look up how many miles I did before the other distributers started to pack up.

MK2 Bookends the Day

I started the day heating up the Imp while I was spraying the drive - having forgotten to wash the MK2 - so ended up doing that a bit later. I started the Imp and let it warm for later though.

The Golf looks clean but generally the paintwork is getting much worse. I tried to T-Cut the bonnet and then polish and wax it and it just showed the scratches.

After lunch the Imp got its run. Harkstead for a few jobs and then the long long way home. 

I tried to video a bit of it but it is very shaky.

Then home and as the sun was still out what next ? Ferrari again I thought as a counterpoint to the Imp.

Here we are with the MK2 Golf lurking in the background. A good run (as they all are) although the traffic was oddly busy for a Saturday afternoon.

Lastly the MK2 got it's proper run - dropping books back in Stutton - and around the block.

So ended another busy day.