Final SAAB potter of the year

Into town to take Jana to Physio through a very quiet Ipswich.

Then an evening jaunt out locally. Nice pattern on the car through the hedge when we came out.

So ends 2019.

As Australia continued to burn like the special effects in an Apocalypse B movie and storms rage over the far East. This was the year that saw the world notice climate change, but not do anything about it.

Something will be changing soon and I'm sure they will target the car as a quick win.

I spoke too soon

Tidying up - so Aston out to pack chairs into the loft.

But it was another car I had in mind for the Sunshine - so I got the Caterham out after a warming.

Then round the block - it seemed to be going better and sounding nicer too. Odd. Then off to the recycling again.

Spotted the Avon ZZR's too. Almost slicks again but they felt firm.

More 'me and my SAAB' time

Out and about all day. Started by crossing into Essex for a while to take pictures - not very successful - but I explored a bit and ended up with a long walk.

Then back to Felixstowe and the coast. Having tried to find somewhere along the seafront I ended up in my usual spot by the groins.

So I took pictures of those and a few Seagulls.

Then returned via Harkstead as the sun set - very red.

Last chance to save the Planet

Well last time in 2020 I think.

Final Aston run to the bottle bank. Did our best to make it worthwhile too.

The chaps in the Golf liked the car as well and had a good look - which was nice.

London is closer than Germany - just

It took me almost as much time to taker James back to London in the Mk7 than it took Jeremy to drive the family back home today.

And I bet the services were cleaner than the Dartford Crossing Thurrock ones too.

Nill by Boxing day

Day off with Jeremy doing the ferrying around.

Estate Wars

Well, now there is a collection of large estates on the drive of the er.. estate.

SAAB (which looks almost toy-like) was pressed into service though.

Pub Popping

SAAB for lunchtime people runs and then after lunch more people runs, then after tea more people runs too.

... and if you look closely you can even see the bridge.

Aston out and about

The roads were still mucky but the beast needed a run around the block and for jobs.

Then SAAB for jobs and petrol before lunch. I stopped to take pictures on the river and some young yobs turned up too.

Nice to see the Mk2 out again.

Then SAAB back out again for more utility runs as the darkness fell.

Just ABBA'ing

That's Swedish Pop'ping out.

Utility run in the dark and rain.

At least the Golf Mk2 is getting a bit of use though.

Auto Union

SAAB out late to take light trail pictures.

Ended up on the trading estate taking pictures of the signs on the buildings.

I did get one challenge from a security guard though - but not at Audi or Mazda.

Water Water Everywhere - Enough to drive you to drink.

Out in the SAAB again - through the rain and partially flooded roads. The fields can't cope with the constant rain so it's building up in the gutters.

In Australia they have the opposite - bush fires raging out of control. We just had a flooded Macro car park.

Oh and we spotted two crash sites - the Freston village sign was broken off where the road was flooded and the pavement on the butchers corner in Holbrook was littered with a wheel and bits of fence ...

Then popped off for a visit to Harkstead - where the road is flooded with water coming out of the drains.

Checking and Cleaning

Cleaned the Mk2 first thing - it's getting dirty an needs the over-spray T-Cutting but it's looking better.

Then checked the Caterham work - looked fine as far as I could see - but the weather was too bad to take it out.

Oh and we have reversing lights now too.

Lots of jobs

James drove the MK2 to the station to drop himself off and then I went to the butchers.

Then drove into town for shopping etc. Practical Classic it is.

Then SAAB 1/2 a mile to ferry Jana and her foot.

Back Home

Caterham off the truck in the morning.

I have to say that was a bit easier than driving to Brands Hatch. Got into the garage before the worst of the rain came back too.

Collection and dump

Picked up the SAAB from the pub - odd to be driven in the Golf. Sounds better though - if a bit less like a WWII bomber.

Then SAAB packed with junk for the dump (recycling centre) so earning it's keep again.

And Katie is Miss November in the Caterham Calendar.

Full drive - but no driving

2 x Audi and 3 x VW on the drive.

SAAB resting in the pub car park though.

SAAB shuffle and Karting

Mk2 Golf in the rain to collect passengers from the Train station

Then SAAB to a family Karting event. It was going so well until Georgie broke the safety barrier after a bad crash and they took 30 mins to fix it.

But it was all ok in the end...

Then SAAB to the pub where we left it for the night.

Just like the professionals

Worked on the Golf for the morning trying to sort out the small patch of rust on the other door.

I decided not to use the garage and just do it outside. The problem was that it was only 8 degrees and a bit damp.

However it was 22 degrees and dry in the box that I made up to spray in - with the fan heater on it.

Not perfect but it's red again. Needs a bit of T-cut though now to remove the over-spray.

Then SAAB to put up Mum's Christmas tree.

Town time again

SAAB off to town again - park/walk/dentist/walk/leave.

Anyway - Caterham done (that was quick) and new tyres on order.

Should get it back Tuesday.

Also replaced the batteries in the LHS garage door - not sure when that was done last ?

Oh and the Tories won the General Election by a landslide. So no Socialist Utopia on the way.

Exhausting day

Working on the Golk Mk2 again.

Starting with the exhaust, I sprayed the nuts with WD40 and let them soak for a couple of days/hours. Was expecting them, to put up a fight but ... quite the opposite they were only finger tight.

So I tried to get the pipe separated. Now that was the problem. I ended up opening the gap slightly and getting a screw drive in the to prize the metal apart a bit then 'jiggle' the exhaust out. An hour later it off.

The new one went on quite easily after I greased the two parts and put the old clamp back on - well it still works.

Then finished of the paint work on the rear and let it dry.

Then off for SAAB jobs for a while.

Returned to take the paper and plastic off and clear up - wheel back on and fired it up. It was much quieter. I also put back the side strike and we'll see if it sticks this time.

Then moved the Aston out to get to the loft. It needs a run too but the weather is changing for the worst again.

Then took the Golf off to mum's for jobs and took her Suzuki Swift for a blast as it had been misbehaving - but that felt fine.

Finally driving back the Golf felt better too. Must be psychological.

The life of Riley ?

SAAB out and about for jobs as the weather turned nasty - windy, cold and wet.

Golf exhaust arrived at last so that's now on the list. It's even got chrome tail pipes.

But hang on - the event of the day/week/month was a visit to a local chap with four Rileys - one superb racer and three other great cars.

I suspect that's enough of a look for me to take the plunge next year !

and so off she went

Warmed the Caterham up for an hour or two first thing - although the weather has turned warmer again.

It stared first time so I waited for the truck and fixed the charger I had buggered.

I think it's fixed - it seemed to work when I tried it on a spare car battery.

The the lorry arrived and we loaded the car up.

Quite easy as it is so small and light - just winched inside.

Then noticed the drive was full of sensible cars. I must make a mends.

Seven Prep

Ran the Caterham around the block to keep it fresh for tomorrow.

Not too cold either.

Tree Times Three

Went for the Christmas tree and came back with three - well two for us and one for mum.

SAAB got even more dirty at the muddy farm but I noticed a posh Audi 4x4 trying to miss the puddles and park on the road.

Another day waiting for the rain to stop

SAAB out and about for local jobs was the highlight.

Golf exhaust won't come until Monday now.

Well it's mostly Red

Finished the paint on the Golf door bottom - hard to see in the dark garage but it looks mostly red now.

Also attacked the rear where the rust had eaten most of the lower half of the wing. We'll see how I can improve that now I've added metal and filler.

Finally I soaked the exhaust bolts with WD40 in preparation of taking that off too.

Repairs are fun

Working on the Mk2 Golf - repairs to the doors.

Made a nice 'snug' paint tent to spray in - seemed to work ok ... we'll see how it actually worked when we take the masking tape off.

Nice use of broom handle too.

Then I thought I'd patch the small hole in the exhaust I found. Until I found the real one and had to patch that too. Hope it actually works - but I also bought a new one - the tail pipes are so rusted anyway.

Then I set about trying to put some metal back in the rear too.

... and Next

Heater on the Alpine at 8:00. Then Aston out and about saving the world climate again.

Trying to be better by taking more bottles each time.

I also found the tyre codes for the Aston in the boot.

Then I decided to start the movement and put up the bubble. Alpine had been on heater for about three hours by then and started once so it was good to go. Although the brakes were binding a bit.

Ended the changes with Mk2 in the garage ready for work. Caterham back where it started from yesterday.

Also took a leap and booked the Caterham into a service and other remedial work next week.

SAAB dash as the cold was falling.

Toe in the motoring water

SAAB into town first thing.

Then sun was shining and so there was no excuse so I warmed up the Caterham for an hour or so over lunch.

Then I took it for a run in the cold sunshine. Hat and gloves on and I was not too cold, but the roads were a bit wet and they looked slippery so I took it steady.

Very enjoyable run though and it reminded me why I do this nonsense.

Then I moved the Mk2 around and parked the Caterham on the slab - I'll put it in the garage this week and the Alpine into the bubble. I must also make the car cover from the ripped one I have been given.

As for now the Alpine, poor thing, is being used as a dumping ground.

No Car November

Well I contributed less to global warming last month. No classic action in November at all - well just 12 miles in the Mk2 Golf.

Odd - but I suspect it was right.

SAAB and Mk7 did the running around in the bad weather.

Must try harder in December.

So again only took the SAAB for a short run in the dark and cold.

Peeking out

Off early to get the Aston on a frosty morning.

Car 1 - Lift to the station
Train 1 - Mannintree to Colchester
Bus - To Marks Tey
Train 2 - To Shenfield
Train 3 - to Brentwood
Taxi - To Grange
Car 2 - Aston back home

The car was in the workshop and I caught it in the shaft of light on the way out.

Then A12 back home in the sunshine.

SAAB out pm for jobs.

Special Sticker

Overnight sail and then the wait for the unloading - we'd been put on the lower deck with the larger vehicles and trucks and given a nice new sticker too.

Quite an ok run up - past the A3 M25 and A12 (but not picking up the Aston) and home to unpack.

Then SAAB out for jobs and finally into town.

Long Day Packing

I had to clear up the painting work debris before I could pack the car, but eventually everything was done.

It felt strange to be leaving in the evening though.

Not a wheel turned 26-27th

Just working to keep the job going.

New addition to The Fleet required ?

Morning trip to the Central Hospital to get Jana X-ray'ed and checked over after a bad fall. They did have good wheel chairs though.

Certainly better than my effort.

But you never know when an old office chair will come in handy ...