77 Days Later

No not a Horror Film - but the number of days the Alpine was away.

AM it was pottering - although I did put the new tiles down - amongst other small jobs.

However they don't quite sit 100% right. I'll try laying them all from the midpoint to the front and see if they work better. Or just see if they just settle.

PM I chased Coltec again and they said ... one last test drive ! However they rang back to say that it was fine (not counting the soaking wet seat) so we set a time to pick it up, which got quickly revised as it looked like rain.

However on arriving there it was. Looking clean and inviting. So how was it ?

The good news is that the jobs are done, the steering and brakes are much better and the car seems less prone to heat.

However there are a few snags to add to my preparation list. Like the horn does not work, the ignition warning light is wired to the indicator bulb and the seat and center glove box are soaking wet. Oh and there is another chip in the rear valance.

But overall I'm pleased - and the bill was very reasonable too.

The drive back was a bit scary - only because I've not driven the car for over three months and the steering is a bit tight so does not self-center as it did before, but we flew along.

I'm not sure the Speedo is any more accurate but it does not 'flicker' any more. The wrap on the exhaust is quite subtle and my first impressions are that it has helped keep the heat down as we got very little slow running 'lumpiness' even after 20 mins queuing in traffic.

I was a bit concerned that the temperature gauge was not working at all but I checked the temperature when we got home and it was fine after 10 mins sitting - in fact the engine did not seem that hot when I opened the bonnet.

So here we are - home again.

A full complement of toys again. Now given that we are full up, what do we think of getting another vintage car ... Madness ? Yes me too - Madness.

Floored and Alpine Inching Forward

More shed/store work in the morning but it's coming to an end.

I also checked on the Alpine with a call first thing - but got no answer. Then I got a message saying 'it's back together and being tested, but rain stopped play. Perhaps Today  !'. However 'Today' was stormy, very wet and very windy so I did not think it would be done - perhaps tomorrow.

I did pop out and collect 7 garage floor tiles - black not gray I noticed ... whilst there I spotted a garage working on odd Land Rovers that did tuning.

On the run there and back I noticed the SAAB seemed to loose power a bit at times. No 'CEL' flashes though. Odd - and a little disturbing.

Home again and after packing up the tools and pottering it was job time. So SAAB back out to save the planet.

Of course this will be one of the last trips as the new recycling bins will take glass. What am I going to do with the Aston then ?

Mini Dash and ... Chats

Very early (6:15 am) start to get the new garden equipment store done as much as I could before the rain set in. In the morning I did have a very short SAAB dash in the village - only to find the object I was picking up was far too big.

Then I just watched the water fall from the sky - oh and no one called to say the Alpine was ready - so we'll chase in the morning - again.

Well the evening was the RGEA meeting and a few brave chaos made it in their classics.

I think this is an Austin Cambridge - but at least two Rootes cars turned up too - whiles I had the SAAB.

I also chatted to a member (Rich) who I had sent to see Coltec - he'd had a great long chat and drive with them. I 'joked' they preferred to do that rather than my car !

Natural Cleaning

Lot's of wind and heavy rain (and even a bit of Thunder) today so Summer is on hold for a bit.

The good news it cleaned the SAAB quite well.

Anyway PM between the showers the MK2 got another ride out.

Well a delivery run to Harkstead anyway. The oil buzzer went off again and then stopped on its own.

ION: Climate Scientist are predicting a Super El Nino this year - which coupled with man made warming will mean more extreme weather - somewhere. Mind you Ipswich was flooded by a flash down poor tonight so we'd better take it seriously.

Clowns to the left of me - Jokers to the right

... here I am, stuck in the middle.

Started the day on two wheels - until I fell over on the drive looking at something - and trying to turn in the deeper gravel at the same time. Dho !

Then I chased up for the shed hinges first thing. After an hour or so they said they had them and then it turned out to be only one set. I gave in and me and the very dusty SAAB I popped off to get it. What did we find ? Turns out all three sets were in the shop all the time.

Then I chased Coltec for the Alpine again - er/ah/well - no they did not even start last week as the chap was sick. Too many rushed jobs and difficult problems so we slipped down the priorities again. 

Booked in for tomorrow - Honest.

PM as the sun went in I treated myself to an hour looking for Dragonflies.

MK2 looking almost as dirty as the SAAB now.

Keeping it Short

Lot's of admin to catch up on first thing so all I managed was one SAAB mile for bread in the morning. The car really is filthy though.

PM was better - I took the miles and started the Aston to let it warm up. It's not going to get much use so I'd better do that a few times over the next few weeks.

I also started looking at the Riley. I spotted that the oil pipe to the catch tin was not sealed at the joint. I thought I'd run the car up to temperature and see if something comes out. I can't see any 'mayonnaise' in the cam box though.

I was also pleased to see that the cloth in the 'valley' had soaked up the oil overnight in the plug depressions. So back to the Riley and instantly she was started a slight spurt came out. 

It looks like two of the joints are opening. Probably all the rough roads around here shaking them loose.

Whilst that was going on the Aston was started again and this time backed out so Oil could take his floor tiles back again. Ho hum.

Two steps forward and one back perhaps.

So what next - after putting everything away it was E-type time. 

I'd thought about the Talbot but Mr. E is not getting enough use - mind you what about the Aston ?!?

Good run though - only around the block but the sun was shining and the roads were mainly free.

ION: the Imp is starting life as a Tictok 'star'.

Oh well.

Looking back at the miles for May the Talbot trounced every classic with almost 350 miles, with the Ferrari well behind.

Keeping it Local

Sun still out and hot. Wandered around the village for a themed walk - nice Fergie with its sheep.

Then PM MK7 ride to Stutton and then Passat run - with the GT's - to Harkstead.

Then after drop off it was Ferrari time.

I did get a 'wiff' of something - but then I was following a Series1 Land Rover ! I also could smell where they had a BBQ going so I suspect I'm just sensitive.

I also spotted the Imp video already being used. This was late afternoon.

However we were puffing a little smoke by then.

A Riley Day

So ... I started the day with an odd funny feeling - not everything was/felt right/good. I tried to swap out the Riley as it looked like rain. But no - I stuck to it.

Then to start with I found the brake lights were 'on' when I turned on the battery to start the car. Very odd. It went out when I tapped the brake pedal. Then packing I forgot sun screen. Then I forgot to buy any lunch when I topped up with petrol. At least I did not get lost. Well not too lost. 

So here we are at Crows Hall. It was only 20 miles away apparently - but it still took an hour.

Then after working most of the morning the car with the filming it was getting hot so we had a break. I found one cam cover had bounced off and let some oil out and the emulsification was back on top of the oil breather. Also both water pipes were collapsed - like they were sucked in - odd.

After lunch I reduced the load on the car with some longer running drone shots and then headed home.

It was hard going again and yes - I did take a wrong turn - but we got back without any more rain.

No call from Coltec though so I assumed the Alpine is STILL NOT READY.

So what next ? ECR ? No I rounded off the day with a quick SAAB run to drop the Jet Wash off at Stutton. I got a call about the ECR meet but was a bit knackered to go. In fact there was quite a fuss on FB about it - well noise complaints from someone in Stutton from cars 'racing' through where Oli used to live anyway.

A Tale of two Buoys

I called Coltec first thing and ... it's due to be done this week. So perhaps a collection on Friday PM ?

Then G2R for a day sail - just out to sea and back. Past Stone Banks ...

... and then out to The Medusa.

Not the best of days - choppy sick-making waves. Oh well.

By late afternoon I had recovered enough to clean the Riley for tomorrow's Video Shoot. Hopefully it will remain dry and warm for one more day.

Fingers crossed then - on a couple of counts.

Another little Shower

A day of two halves.

First as the parts were not ready for the shed I popped to the Creek in the very dusty MK2 - to look for Dragonflies. Seems it was 'Red' day there.

Or perhaps just a KIA meet-up. However there were very few insects around. Then back home and picked up drugs for Harkstead which I then dropped off.

However the PM was a vintage event. Off to a CVMC meeting in deepest Suffolk. Well past Stowupland anyway. We obviously took the Talbot which did it's trick of spraying the windscreen with water for a short while. We made it through the small backroads ok but I still don't like them.

Here we are in the background with a couple of very smart looking Alvi. What ever the plural of Alvis is anyway. I chatted to a very knowledgeable chap with turned up in a Sunbeam twin cam (and had lots of vintage cars) and he also thought the seal on the radiator cap was coming to the end of it's life - so I'll have to start there.

Running back there was no drama and no splashes.

Get Them Out

Well after working all day in the heat, I took the SAAB 1/4miles and no - the Dr. was closed. Well it was 17:25 - who works that late now anyway ?

After that it was time to take the E-Type out at last. Only 24 degrees though at 6:30 pm. Memories of France and getting lost on the Cherbourg Peninsula in the late afternoon heat came back. Happy Days ?

Obviously I feel guilty about not doing a bottle bank run before - now I have, the planet will start cooling again - I'm sure ...

ION: UK's hottest May day record broken for second day in a row - now we're up to 35.1C.

Car Season is Hotting Up

Early start - well early dither about which car to take to Saxstead today, which is a small new informal Pub meet. I thought E-type, as it was going to be very hot so opened the garage up to see how clean it was - then I swapped to the Talbot. Was that wise with temperatures nearing 30 degrees inland today ?

I still think the car is making more noise than last year but who knows. On the way there were a few 'splashes' of water on the windscreen but they soon stopped. Odd. 

However nearly 30 miles there was fine [including the obligatory getting lost bit] and we parked up in the sun. 

Lots of old faces and new cars - so a good little meet up. I also spoke to the chap with the Model T. He explained that the lights really were acetylene gas held in crystals in this canister on the running board. 

The control on the top was supposed to let the driver restrict the flow of gas and 'dip' the lights. Apparently they were so bight and the cars had to have 'running lights' [oil lamps] fitted in London so they did not spook the horses.

The run back was fine too - nice empty small roads once I missed a turning - but we were both getting very hot. I stopped for break and then went off again about 20 mins later - the fuel was obviously getting hot too so we missed a couple of times, but one on the A14 we were fine. Home again and I popped it away in the garage felling like a day well spent and that was that.

But not - then a MK7 ride to Harkstead for jobs was next. Followed by ...

A run out in the Ferrari. Did it smell - hard do tell. Did it go well - easy to tell. Yes.

ION: The other thing hotting up is the planet - well the UK today - as it hit 34.8C. This beat the previous hottest May by a full 2 degrees.

Ferry Bound

I completed the final packing just as the Sun rose.

It looked like an empty boat and we were near the front too - so early off we hoped.

A slightly beaten up early series Land Rover pulled up behind us - with the driver looking a bit full of himself.

Well, I would be if it was me driving that around. When he got back as we were waiting to disembark he checked under the car for leaks and checked his lights were still working too. Nice touch.

We were very quickly off but somehow the Land Rover man beats through customs and when I caught him up I followed him down the main road. In fact I was focusing so hard on following him I turned off when he did - at the junction before ours. He pulled up to check the car again and I went back onto the right road.

The run back was uneventful and the M25 crossing clear - even though it said one tunnel was closed (it was not). Home again just as it got dark - so another trip completed and all on less than one tank.

Now its Hot

Surprise builder visit was booked in for Saturday so just a short jaunt AM back to recycling and the dump.

PM into Dinan. I spotted a MGB roadster, a Spitfire and a Golf convertible - all enjoying the warm evening sunshine.

Going Electric

Back into Dinan (well Leon) for a walk AM before the heat came. I spotted this very small electric car almost parked in the cloisters.

Trying to look like a Fiat 500 I suspect.

Then back home  (via shopping of course) and parking under this new roof - all solar tiles - needed to charge the little car above I suspect.

Builder #

We met the second builder very early which meant we had all do ahead of us. It was hotting up though as we parked in in Dinan for the market.

This time a bit further down the usual street.

Out and About

AM meeting the first builder then the traditional Dump run - then shopping.

PM dodging showers and looking for patio tiles. First Le Roy, then here there and ...

... everywhere.

Simca Spotting

Awoke to rain - but DIY was planned anyway - so that was the morning covered.

Lunch out in Dinan and I spotted this Simca 1100 Special parked up.

But not a lot else as we drove the MK7 up to the posh resort of Saint Luniare just west of Dinard.

Parking was fine - as it usually is in France - and we'll come back.

Jag Fest Afloat

As we went down to the car on arrival I spotted that the car deck was full of Jags on a tour to the Dordogne, mostly moderns with a smattering of others. I spotted an XJS and a large slightly scruffy old Jaguar - possibly a MKVII.

Having been one of the first on we were one of the last off and we queued a long time though security. To make us feel welcome there were also roadworks on the main road out of the port.

Home (via the boulangerie) for a quick breakfast and off shopping - of course.

After lunch (and out of the blue) I got a call from Peter Pescud. Don't forget to put oil - EP95/120 - in the box he said. Now I never got that instruction last time ...

Another quick shopping trip to end the day and that was that.

Packing before the Rain

I started packing the Golf early as wet weather was predicted. We seemed to have a lot already. I guess the cot does not help.

I also swapped the battery charger around on the Talbot but that went green immediately.

After an emergency SAAB run to help in Stutton it was time to finish the packing. We were quite full when I'd finished but still no rain.

The run to Portsmouth as normal - traffic light - and uninteresting. Sitting in the queue for the security I spotted this though.

A 1933 Rolls Royce Phantom 2. So probably quite expensive. 7.6 L six cylinder engine so effortless torque. It's also on the front cover of a book and even a stamp from Tanzania.

So was it in East Africa ? I'll research it in my book.

Wrong Way Round

So starting with pottering and then the E-type around the block.

It went well (as usual) I don't know why I thought it would not. Nice view down the bonnet - I need to try a photoshoot of that.

Then PM off to work. So SAAB to Harkstead for jobs.

Just a few tools this time though.

Coming back with more ?

SAAB run with building materials in the morning - to finish off the slabs at Harkstead.

Looks like I came home with more - well a bag of rubble anyway.

Then PM SAAB back up for tea, and finally ...

The Ferrari got an outing.

Looked good and went even better. We flew around the block - and even overtook someone !

Showers an Hail

Before I could start on my own jobs I had to sort out the MK7 Golf. No water in the windscreen washer. 

So that got topped up. I also checked the coolant which was slightly down, and the oil - which was fine. 

Then after jobs and dodging the hail and showers it was time for a SAAB run to Stutton to deliver some work lights for the dark garage.

The final dash in the rain was a MK7 rush to the Co-op for supper.

ION: Looks like we've got another PM on the way out - or at least another leadership crisis. After a lackluster last two years of government and getting trounced at the local elections Steer Calmer is on the brink ... of something.