Just Van'ning

AM was a walk to Harkstead in the cold blustery wind to pick up the van.

Starting easily now it's in the charger. It did need fuel though so I took a very flooded, rutted back road to the main road and thence to the petrol station. I brimmed the tank (yes it is petrol) and dropped it off. 

By the time I'd got back the village roadworks had gone. Good.

PM too cold and dreary to get anything else out so I did some more on the archive.

Trailer Un-Trashed and Two a Go-Go

It started with a shock - the Sun coming out first thing - so a good day beckoned. The plan was to get the Talbot started - so fan heaters both on by 8:15.

Then start the jobs - what first ? After a potter I thought I'd fix the trailer lights. We'd noticed them not working and the wires worn through. In fact two wires were completely broken and another worn through the cover. 

After finding some odd spare (probably inappropriate) fittings I'd got them all working again. I then re-positioned the spare wheel to be under the trailer so the rain won't collect in it and rot it out again. I hope.

Then MK7 out to save the planet.

That felt odd - but I needed to move it for the main event anyway as it was blocking the Talbot garage.

PM (and after four and a half hours on two fans) I tentatively started the car. I primed it a lot but it was still slow to start - and felt like a lack of petrol - so the auxiliary pump is probably on the cards. But start it did and out into the sunshine we came. I let it idle and went back inside - in fact when I came back to take it out it gave me quite a shock when I rounded the corner.

Out and 'half around' we went - the road is still closed. So we're back to the layby.

It had been 'spitting' a little on the windscreen and I suspected the last time I filled it up with water I put in too much - so I pushed the radiator cap down again. It did not seem to do much more on the run back either. We'll have to monitor.

That completed what next ? Well the Ferrari had been unavertable warmed up in there too so after another hour of direct heat it got it's own turn. That stared second turn of the key and sounded good - no pops at all. After letting it warm we did the same run.

And of course stopped to turn around in the same place.

That done we finished the day with a trip to Ipswich for plumbing parts in the SAAB - which flashed at me three time I think. I don't think it liked crawling along past the roadworks - this time on the Wherestead Road - again.

Jumbo Times

Admin and Archive AM.

Then PM off to the CVMC meeting. Heavy rain and shitty roads - so no pre-war cars of any sort. Not even a 60's classic. There was a 1990's SAAB though.

Did I park there last time in March 2025 ?

Not quite !

Ah and Jumbo ? Well that is the Victorian Water Tower in Colchester built in 1883 and the subject of the talk today.

Back to One

It even snowed today - watery wet blobs. So AM was working on the archive.

Then PM Harkstead run in the MK7. 

Then back through the roads awash with water again through lower Holbrook.

Golf to the Power of Two

After 40 days of rain (well almost) the sun came out so we went for a run in the MK7 to the coast for Brunch and a Walk. It felt like most of the country had the same idea - busy for February.

We walked along the beach to look at the most recent Suffolk coastal erosion at Thorpeness. Oh dear.

What is left is not going to last many more storms I'm afraid.

PM I topped up the MK2 tank with petrol from the stock and then popped out to fill it up - via Stutton.

Looked good out there. I filled it up on the way back and no problems at all - so far. We'll see if I was right. It could probably do with the plugs cleaning anyway though.

Only a Short Hop

Not much going on really.

A short PM hop to deliver pills and do admin in the MK2.

That was it.

However it did feel like it was only on 3 cylinders again for a bit when I started for home ? Odd - mind you it's not got any fuel in it so I'll fill it up and see what happens.

Colder than I Thought

I warmed the Imp up first thing (two hours on the fan heater) then started it up. It started fine with little fuss.

Looking at the skies it was hit and miss whether I'd get out though so I left it until after lunchtime and the roads had actually dried - well mostly.

I had checked the oil and it was fine - as were the skies - but there were some very dark clouds floating around in the distance. I decided to risk it - but it was colder than I'd thought and I got home a bit shivery ! The car went well and up to 50 mph some of the time. Did it sound different ? Well with my wooly hat ear flaps down it was hard to tell.

For a Moment

Well I thought it had stopped raining for a moment as I looked out of the window first thing. But No. 

Eventually it cleared up a bit but stayed 'Wetter than an Otter's Pocket' - as they say. Checking last year's blog - well it was the same - early February was just rain and damp.

PM highlight was a Heath trip in the trusty SAAB to collect shoes - very busy as usual.

Then drop off at Harkstead in the gloom. One CEL flash to keep me on my toes.

Wet Aston Again

It looked ok first thing - just mist and the possibility of rain later - so Aston out by 8:00 am into the gloom so I could start the garage ceiling. It was so damp even my phone camera fogged up.

However, a full 7.5 hours later I'd finished. By then the car was very wet though so the next half an hour was spent leathering it off.

As to the garage - almost there - it needs a bit more on the edges to tidy it up - oh and I spotted water was creeping in by the tree - but only making the wood wet and not coming in.

More rain on the way though so not much classic car activity on the cards yet this February.

Wrong Twice

First job was to collect the wood from B&Q for the garage ceiling so SAAB out and about - a 'CEL' flash to keep me on my toes on the way too.

I picked it up and looked at the very small load - odd - anyway it went into the car easily. Too easily. I'd got the wrong size. So I went back into the shop and started to load larger bits up. I then thought I'd better do the right thing and get the large sheets cut - that was the original plan after all - so I unloaded them all again.

That done I unloaded the 10 small bits [1.2m] and loaded the 10 long bits [2.4m] into the car. Just.

I could not really shut the boot either then. Of course I had to return the first load next.

Eventually we made it home fine. Bloody fool I though.

PM just a quick SAAB run for Tea and jobs at Harkstead.

Yep that's the van tyres being pumped up.

Bin Man

SAAB and trailer in play first thing to take the brown bins to the allotment and fill them.

Two things struck me. 1. I need to learn how to reverse a trailer, 2. The electrics need fixing - the wire is even worn through completely in one place.

Then PM it was garage time again. So Aston out - I decided to clean it first before the light went.

This is before. Anyway the car got cleaned and then the rest of the garage ceiling got insulated.

So next I have to complete the ceiling and make the edges a bit more waterproof. 

Not a Bentley Boy Then

Early start for the SAAB and me - as we (Nigel) were off to the high end Rolls Royce and Bentley dealer/restorer P&A Wood in deepest Essex.

A rain soaked run with flooded roads and drizzle but no problem for the SAAB.

The tour of the workshops showed us some great cars and some huge ones too. A bit overwhelming at times - as were the costs of the restorations bein undertaken I would estimate.

Highlights ? A couple of nice Derby Bentleys - one probably in ... and one well out of my price range. But as they were both customer cars and not for sale I won't include their pictures.

There was also nice Rolls at the £250k mark I liked the look of. It was a 'Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental 1932 Sports Saloon by Park Ward'. Indeed.

There were a couple more Derby Bentleys I could afford if I swapped them for the Ferrari. Ah well - let us use the fleet we have this year - as the prices of pre-war cars continue to fall it's the sensible plan ...

Anyway - the SAAB splashed back home through the rain again and that was that for the day, although I do think the 'check engine light' is staying on a bit longer when it gives me a cheeky wink.

Late evening was back to normal with a village run to save the planet. 

In at the Deep End

Another rain soaked day - so Archive work all day. I'm getting there though.

I did pop out to look for the pot hole that damaged Oli's tyre yesterday. Mind you the roads were all so flooded it was hard to spot any particular one.

This was just part of it I found. It's been reported many times though.

One day they might actually fix it.

More Tool Tidying

Rain again - like it will never stop - so no work planned and I could do with a rest anyway.

I did tidy the tools away again though and glanced at the cars in their bubbles.

Then PM I ran through the 1930 Le Mans archive file again to correct the orientations and find errors. That took over two hours but I can see how to improve the process - not take 8 hours re-scanning things for a start.

I did read the 1930 report on the race too afterwards.

Here is a colourised photo of the Talbot that was 4th - looking a but worse for wear. It looks quite deserted too - not like today - but perhaps not as safe.

A bigger Hole

A sunny day at last - so I reversed the wet Aston out and set about re-doing the pad for the door. 

That should do it now. Hopefully it will suit all the cars ... I also put the insulation up in the roof covering 90% - so just the small bits left to complete before boarding it out.

Then Aston off to Stutton for BB-Sitting duty for a while. The key stuck again.

But came out with a tap. It is getting colder again though. Home and it was almost dry but dirty.

Then a quick SAAB jaunt to Harkstead to unblock the printer [again] and other jobs.

Finally the run to the RGEA meeting in the gloom.

Oh those tools !

I stepped out into the cold gloom to sort the tools out I'd left yesterday.

It never fails to surprise me how many I need. It took me about 90 minutes so I'm glad I left it.

Then PM it was a MK2 Golf to Harkstead in the rain - just jobs.

I noticed the mat was wet when I got back in after it had sat in the rain for two hours and it seemed lumpy at first. I'll have to look at that.

The Open and Shut Case of the Working Man

So after all the 'relaxing' it was time for some more garage work - but first ...

I spotted this - I'd left the MK7 boot open all night. A dry night thankfully though.

Next Aston out into the gloom - and then the rain. So it got quite wet sitting there all day.

However the main event was doing more on the garage. So I started that and as expected I ran out of wood by lunchtime so B&Q beckoned.

Yep - SAAB back in play with a bit of wood - in fact not enough bits as it turned out I'd not bought enough - so I had to scrimp and save bits to finish off. But there we are - the Aston back in after driving it 2 miles to try and shake off some of the water.

So that was taken at 19:19 pm - yes I'd been working all day (and some of the evening too) but it's finished bar correcting the cut out for the door and adding a cover for the light switch wire. Oh and lagging the roof. But they can all wait for another day.

So now it's February

.... So just a MK7 ride for jobs and Lunch at Harkstead.

That needs a clean too though.

An Off Day - and the Scores

It was supposed to be an off day for me but I managed two runs anyway.

AM SAAB of course for walking around the floods at Flatford.

Meanwhile these look like MK2 tracks.

Late PM I was being left off as we were going to Stutton Village Hall for an event - we even got a lift in the said MK2 but then had to go back home - so I picked up the driving job in the end anyway.

Four up the rear suspension really sags - I'll get it done this year. Honest.

So believe it or not 'That's All Folks' - well for January. The results ?

As expected the Aston leapt into first place with the run to the Talbot meeting - a cool 240 for the month. The E-type, Imp and Talbot managed just over 70 between them which was fine given the weather, salt and the fact that I only fixed the Talbot mid month.

SAAB Uber Alles

Rain so no garage work - but then I needed a rest.

I did a bit more on the Talbot archive though - only to find it is all scanned in already - just upside down. I'll need to rethink my approach - but lessons are there for learning.

Then evening SAAB run to pick up J&M from the station in the gloom.

Flooded roads and rain - just when it is built for. I did notice the 'CEL' flashing a bit more - and is it staying on longer ?

Nowhere Man

A full day working on the garage - so Aston out first thing again.

Looking like it needs a clean and a run.

Anyway I made most of the full day and now about two thirds are done.

The odd black square is for the Aston door. I'd measured it but not taken into account the curve of the door - so it only half works. I should extend the cut out down another foot - which means taking the panel off !

I was too knackered after all that to take the Aston out in the dark - so it just got put back into the garage until next week.

Half Job Day

Aston out into the sunshine - not for a run though just starting the garage work.

It took me several hours just to get one section done before lunch time arrived. However I was learning as I went.

Next was a post lunch walk at Felixstow - the shingle looked as if it has shifted a lot around the entrance to the Deben this year after the storms.

Mind you the SAAB needs a wash again as well after all the weather it has absorbed too.

I'll Archive That

Early AM run to the shops for milk in the SAAB as the rain hammered down.

Then about four hours on the TOC Archive. Scanning and making notes.

Pretending to be an Aston

A morning waiting for more building materials to arrive for the garage and looking at the skies darken and the cold wind to come back.

Then PM SAAB run to the Heath with shoes to be altered.

It was chaotic [as usual] but luckily I spotted a space appear in front of me so I squeezed in.

Then pretending to be the Aston we saved the planet.

ION: A third senior Tory defects to Reform and is welcomed by Uncle Nigel.