Gloomy - Me ?

All day working on the Imp book to finish it off as heavy rain fell and the wind blew.

The best bit of the morning was the VdP group Facebook post of the Talbot Ulster VdP - a bigger version of the one in the VdP book.

I finished the Imp book though, so we'll see how it turns out.

Later it was a run in the gloom to Harkstead.

Lots of admin and Tech jobs. Well someone has to do it.

I also spotted the Alpine at the NEC in the club mag. 

Not the best of pictures - but it is nice t see it in the mag again.

10 Red Lights

Off to clear the boat this morning - before Storm Goretti arrives. The roadworks in the village had moved down a bit, but then there were another 4 sets on the road to Shotley to get through before we got to the boat.

It was a quick job to load up though - easier than before it seemed. Then 5 sets of red light home too.

Of course it was off to Harkstead for jobs in the afternoon. So I jumped into the 39 year old classic car.

The Golf was cold, a bit fugged up but still going well.

VAN DOWN !

We returned the van first thing and noticed most of the snow has gone for now.

RGEA meeting this evening though so SAAB pressed into service as its cold and dreary but we're not really expecting much more snow for a while - just rain and the coming storm.

Talking of which ...

ION: In something strangely like a video clip from a PC game like Call of Duty, the US show how they boarded and seized two oil tankers in international waters.

Battery Boy

Walked to Harkstead to pick up the van first thing. There it was.

It was in the garage but as expected only  j   u   s   t    started. It was so low it zero'ed the clock. I thought I'd better fit a new battery.

So PM off we went to collect it only to find ...

Without warning the bloody road is closed again.

Back again and the battery was quite easy to fit. 

One side was an automatic quick release fitting and the other was a really tiny nut - 8 mm I think.

Exciting stuff.

Snow Day !

Wow Snow ! Well a little smattering - but it means most of the country comes to a halt.

Anyway - not a classic car day so SAAB out instead.

Up to Harkstead in fact - but I'd not counted on it being quite frozen. Not really a problem though.

There is Always One

Another bitterly cold day - but nice and sunny. 

I decided to fix the MK2 boot catch first. so off came the five plastic 'studs' that hold it on with a small screwdriver. Of course one went 'ping' and disappeared into the gravel - but I think that was the broken one anyway.

That revealed the mechanism. 

It's the fitting to the left under the serial number on the lock that doesn't move. The bar that pulls/pushes it is attached to the spindle that the little white fitting is on. I greased both bits and it quickly freed up and worked fine again.

I put the cover back on and as I had a similar stud it looks fine.

I last fixed that in October 2020 - and I don't think the hole I found will actually let lubricant get to the mechanism.

PM I wanted to do my bit for the planet.

So off we went - the roads were very 'white' with the salt, but quite dry. When I got to the bottle bank the key would not come out again. Too cold I guessed - about 20 taps and prods and it did pop out.

The car could do with a wash now though.

Booting It - and Boots on the Ground

A very cold and frosty day but no snow. Roads looked very salty and bad though so no Vintage Ventures today.

Instead an afternoon MK2 run to Stutton.

The only problem is that the boot would not stay shut. Ah that happened before - in October 2020 in fact - so I hope it is the same fault. Just a stuck/dirty internal catch.

ION: Trump decides to initiate regime change in Venezuela, launching a military assault to capture President Nicolas Maduro and extracted him to the US. They are now going to 'run the country' including re-starting the Oil production ... it seems to have been flawless. What happens next ?

More Motoring Madness

Clear blue skies but a cold Winter's day. Off in the SAAB looking for photo opportunities AM then.

But to be honest there were not many.

Back home I thought perhaps the Imp needs a run - it was only two degrees though. Never mind., put the heater on and see what it feels like a bit later.

Well it felt fine - if bitterly cold to start with. We went around the block - slippery salt stained roads all the way. Good though.

Deja Vu

See January 1st 2025.

A day of walking not driving after yesterday's excitement. I did spot this yesterday though and today thought it might echo my Vintage car focus.

Apparently I've already Started  too.