Well Now

Normal things today - a Mk7 ride to go for a Winter walk. Then playing with graphics and reading car books.

'What a year' - would be the banal summary. Other words we have learnt more about this year are: Unprecedented, Covid, Mask, Social Distancing, Lockdown and Tiers.

Mind you 'Riley' was a nice addition to the vocabulary and to the fleet and the brief spells in the other cars a treat each time - so a lot to be thankful for really.

2020 ends with a record number of C-19 daily cases - standing at 55,891 - according to the BBC.

Then at 11:00 pm we waved goodbye to Europe.

Finally, as New Year celebrations have been legally banned in most of the country 2020 will slip away quietly and we'll look forward to 2021 with only a little celebration but a lot of hope - and perhaps light at the end of the tunnel.

Life Raft 1 and 2 ?

Trusty SAAB out in the morning to a freezing river to look for birds. No luck.

Then 1. I picked up the life raft for the boat - again in the trusty SAAB.

Also 2. This was approved - the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. So we've got two to use now.

However, the numbers of C-19 cases are higher now than in the first wave - driven by sharp rises from the new strain of the virus. 

So more areas have gone into in Tier 4 and school starts are being put back. So that's 78% of us with 'Stay at Home' orders.

Finally the NHS is about the be swamped. It's going to be a very bumpy ride this Winter.

Just staying in again

Not a sight of the sun today so stayed in a read.

The first vaccine patient has her second jab but Covid-19 cases are still rising quickly - so it looks like we'll be locked down for a long time now.

Little Traffic

Walked back on the road from the Creek in the wintery sunshine of the late morning.

Plenty of people out and about but few no cars on the road - Lockdown Tier 4 style ?

Swede to Swede

Popped to the bottle bank in the SAAB as the roads were so shitty after the storm. 

Saw the sign telling me to stay home.

Then down to the marina for a walk and look for the boat. Again a SAAB run getting very dirty.

Swede again

Lockdown Tier 4 style begins. Se we went off to Harkstead in the SAAB.

... and looked at some Xmas lights on the way back too.

Storm Bella on the way tonight - so 2020 the year that keeps giving.

 

Followed by the Swede

SAAB out and about on the 25th. Seemed odd.

But the sun was shining.

A bit of German action

Mk2 out and about in the rain and hail today for the run to Harkstead. Did I really hide it in the garage ?

Boris announced a Brexit deal at last - so we're adrift now. A Conservative Prime Minister, Edward Heath, took the UK into the EEC in January 1973 and 47 years later an other Tory Prime Minister takes us out.

Would we be driving the Golf if we'd stayed out - probably.

The shit is getting deeper

SAAB jaunt to drop off stuff at Oliver's and wave at everyone. 

Not looking good on the C-19 front. Cases rising rapidly across the South East as the new strain takes hold, so East Anglia is moving into Tier 4 from 00:01 Boxing day.

It is estimated that 6000 lorries are now stuck in Kent - but are starting to move - as the French open the boarder to let then in - but only as and when the drivers get tested.

Then to cheer us up we're told a new, third variant has been identified (first seen in South Africa) which is even more transmissible than the other two.

Stack 'em, Pack 'em and Rack 'em

Reports of three thousand lorries stuck in Kent waiting to cross back to France tonight. This is a web cam shot from the M20 showing them parked up. More on the French side at Calais.

Some supermarkets are also introducing limits on loo roll again as panic buying starts.

As for me - a trusty SAAB run to town for a haircut (in case it is the last for a few weeks) and B&Q for wood and recycling.

We're not part of Europe any more

Today fears of the new variant of C-19 spread.

Europe closed its boarders to the UK and France closed Dover. We're not part of their club any more. 

More than 40 countries stopped us traveling to them in fact. 

So I guess we're not part of anyone's club now.

Christmas Star

Trusty SAAB out and about with camera equipment to try to photograph the alignment of Saturn and Jupiter. 

I got a decent shot - probably the best with my equipment. Tomorrow they are at their closest point but it is forecast to be cloudy.

If you squint you can see Saturn's rings.

In other news France has shut Dover and its boarders to the UK and most flights have been stopped across Europe due to the new strain of the virus which is 70% more infectious we are told.

Tiers at Bedtime - but the Eagle is in the Nest

MK7 as Snatch Land Rover ?

We were planning the trip to pick James up on Sunday but the news was full of Lockdown rumours all day so we were ready to go. 

Boris popped up on TV at 16:05 and by 16:20 we were on the road. A new more infectious strain of C-19 rife * so London etc. in new Tier 4 and locked down over Christmas from midnight.

At times it felt like a plot of a SciFi 'B movie' as we sped down the A12 in a thunderstorm - coordinating the meeting at Florence's flat. 

James grabbed an electric Zipcar from Brixton, Miranda came down from Crouch End and Elanor got G. Dots on the screen as we merged.

170 miles later - and in a record of just over four and a half hours - we were back home.

2020 just won't lie down and die.

*at time of writing it seems to transmit more easily but is no more life threatening.

Drew a blank

Not sure where the day went but no motorised activities - even washing the Alpine slipped past me in the gloom.

Sunshine

Mk7 ride to the hospital first thing.

Then Alpine out in the afternoon sunshine.

I had a feeling I'd forgotten something as I walked away ...

Even in Suffolk that was a bit trusting. Yes I left the keys on the tonneau.

Then late night dash in the Aero to try to see the planets align - it was misty with clouds - so no.

More odd jobs

Washed the garage doors - inside and out. Oddly pleasing task.

Not sure you would notice but it gave me an excuse to look at the cars. The builder noticed them too.

Then tried to update the Golf satnav chip. I'd downloaded the wrong one yesterday so this only took 30 mins. I copied it to the chip and just looked at the screen ...

... it took another 30 mins for the car to upload it - what a daft system. Wait until all cars are 'connected' it's going to be another level of complexity.

Three hours - for that ?

Started the day by finishing the Caterham off by pumping the tires up to about 30 psi (from 18). I did notice one was down a few pounds but I don't think I've checked them since the car came back.

Then back in the bubble.

I also downloaded the maps for the MK7 - three hour of download ? Ummm.

Grabbing the Sunshine

Time to get the bubble deployed for the Caterham as the MOT is expiring and I'm putting it away. 

So out for the final run of the year and picture next to the flag. New one I see. Then washed the Caterham a bit to get the muck off before putting it away.

So swapped the cars around.

Oh and 1. Most of the country is under the strictest lockdown from Wednesday.

Oh and 2. A new strain of C-19 in in play.

Oh and 3. Final Brexit talks are not going well (again).

Not sure which is the more depressing.

Ditto

SAAB as van to fix a light this time. Dark and rainy but not too cold yet.

Short SAAB hop

Another inter-village hop to put up the tree in Harkstead - tools and drizzle.

Now we have 2 messages to clear too.

Standing firm

Mk7 ride up to Norfolk again - to look for a replacement worktop.

We passed another wrecked car on the Freston road into the village today as well.

Oh and Brexit talks seem to have collapsed - Boris is standing firm.

Just vans on the drive

Vans on the drive as they finish off - until the New Year.

Swift SAAB Scuttle

Another dreary day working on the book - but punctuated by a swift SAAB visit to drop things off.

Oh and Brexit - remember that - looks like its crunch time (again).

More Bookish work

Another miserable day outside so more collation of pictures etc. for Volume 2 of My Cars.

Odd to think its10 years since the last one.

Oh and on C-19 news Margaret Keenan, a UK grandmother of four, was the first person in the world to get a vaccine inoculation first thing today.

Bookish

Weather dreary and cold and misty - so just did a few pages from Volume 2 of My Cars.

More SAAB dashing

SAAB out first thing to see Oli and EB. It needs a good clean inside and out.

Then local trip for lockdown BBQ in the cold followed by a socially distanced walk in the sunshine.

How many trees ?

SAAB swallowing three Christmas trees first thing. Oh good it needs another clean now.

Then the rest of the day spent riding around in the MK7 shopping for presents across Suffolk before a local trop.

It is snowing - so that means SALT

First really wintery day of the year - heavy snow falling first thing and me off to the dump in the SAAB.

That was fine but the flooded road was more of a hazard.

SAAB in the rain

Utility run - still stuffed with rubbish - poor old thing.

Winter and Lugger

Early start to baby sit carpet fitters at Silk Street. Frosty and only 2 degrees - not seen those temperatures this year.

Squeezed into a space and eventually filled the SAAB again with old carpet/plastic and cardboard.

On the way back I was passed by a police car with blue light and yes ... another crash on the Freston road out of the village.

And on the C-19 front the first vaccine has been approved for use in the UK.

Hello to you all

Not sure how it became December so quickly - but I forgot to SORN the Caterham. I'll have to have one more drive them before the MOT expires.

Anyway - I took all the mileages and the Caterham was the clear winner with 65 miles. Anyway it was nice to see them all. I also inflated the Ferrari tires and I started the Imp after warming it up.

Then SAAB to town to pick up flue for the wood burner - but the road was blocked due to a crash. I passed it on the way back and it looked nasty on the Freston road again - this time a MGB GT looking totally smashed in at the front - two cars involved though.

At least it's oil related

Was requested a version of this by a friend. 

An oil painting of his car in the garage.

So that was the sum of the automotive activities.

Another indoor day

I did pop into the garage - but spent most of the day on pics.

Coasting to an idea

SAAB out for a walk - so just utility run really.

Did spot this idea for coasters though.

Here is my version.

Oh and the E-type part turned up early.

Not going out

It started with a cold misty morning and no reason to go outside really.

So I didn't.

All day in fact.

But the E-type part is on the way.

Brum Brum

That's what EB says when she wants to go in a car - and she likes to play in the Alpine.

Here we are parked at Stutton - me for a run (in the car) and us for a walk.

Later a MK7 run down to the boat which was a bit warmer.

Oh and Boris says Suffolk is promoted to Tier 2 when we come out of lockdown. So that's harsher restrictions - like 98% of the country.

Should be off-roading

SAAB out to drop off the life raft for a service - and then on to to a very muddy and Suffolks most shit walk.

It's along the Gipping from Claydon - where I looked for dragonflies last year - and its got worse with fences and barbed wire stopping access to the water and muddy tracks. This was the highlight.

We'll take a warmer classic

Mk2 off to Harkstead with tools etc. for a DIY repair job. 

I had thought about the Alpine - but when I went out it was bloody cold.

Small comfort

Moved the Caterham to repair the car port which had sagged a bit and letting water drip on the car.

I also got a sense of the scale parking it next to the two moderns.

Missed the weather window to get a drive out - so finishing packing away my car books instead.

Also another vaccine has been announced - this time a UK one - so we're getting there. Perhaps 2021 will be a bit different to 2020. 

Getting back to normal

MK7 ride for a coastal walk in the morning. Spotted this nice young timer BMW while we were walking and then again in the car park.

Then quick dash in the Aston to the bottle bank.

The alarm went off again so I got a text - they said it was because the fob had become detached - well it's not been used since mid October. Then I got a message telling me to replace the battery - again. Ho hum.

Not as cold as it looked

Caterham out and about to the marina - to help with boat jobs.

The boat looked odd parked (berthed) backwards.

But it was easier to unload.

Hot run back and I even took the wooly hat off to cool down.

The SAAB utility run followed by cleaning nine dusty Ferraris.

Ready for a Rebuild

That's the study finished - and I can put all the car models back tomorrow after cleaning them.

Eat Sleep Paint Repeat

Or something like that.

In a galaxy far away

Another day decorating - trying to brake the back of it before the weather turns bad again - getting the study back for the cars though.

A long time ago

No car events to write about - other than heating up the Caterham for a run and then abandoning the idea as the weather closed in again.

Looking through some mags I found this though - NEC 2005.

Another Lockdown errand

Just me and half of Ipswich on the roads today - although the shops were quiet - as I had to get building supplies in the trusty SAAB.

Essential Travel Only

Well that's what the signs on the main road say.

Not that everyone is obeying it - as we drove past in the Golf Mk7 after our permitted exercise.

2 x SAAB runs

Shopping then visits today in the SAAB and passed this tree about to bring down the cables.

Especially as the wind is up again.

Oh and the Government has decided to accelerate the banning of petrol cars. The U.K. will move up a planned ban on the sale of new diesel and petrol cars to 2030 ...

Another Lockdown Run out

I finished re-reading Backfire, a collection of writings by Alan Clark* taken from his time as a contributor to Classic and Sportscar magazine. Some things resonated - like using classics and the joy of long drives in old machines. Mind you he was really talking about pre-war cars and he had a few more quid to spend.

So that got me in the mood to take something out and as I've not got a Rolls Royce Silver Ghost, Derby Bentley or SS100 in the garage I got the Alpine out and took it around the block in the mid afternoon gloom.

As you can see the bright day had started to turn and as the weather has started to get colder I noticed my legs chilled on the run. It did make me feel like the Imp needs a 'pre-salt' run too - but I'll wait for the roads to be dry and clean before I do.

* Tory MP, Car enthusiast and writer - Norman Lamont called him "the most politically incorrect, outspoken, iconoclastic and reckless politician of our times". Oh and he did not like E-types.

Brakeout

Day 'whatever' of Lockdown 2.0 and I took the Caterham out to the bottle bank and the post office in Manningtree.

Good run too in the sunshine - so hot I took off the hat and gloves. 

Squeezing Past

Basically I only managed to visit the garage a few time and squeeze past the bubbles.

No 3 up and running

The sun came out and so I decided to get the Ferrari in the bubble in the afternoon. Looked tempting in the sunshine - but it was getting misty by the time I had finished.

It started first time (again no fan heater) although did fail once putting it away. The bubble seemed to take a long time to get inflated - even when I added the compressor to help out.

Eventually we were done.

It took almost 2 hours in all.

Bugger we'll get back to eliminating petrol now

So two of the cars are packed up for winter and ...

... the SAAB was out for a utility run.

In other news they announced that Pfizer has developed a vaccine for C-19. That's good then. Markets soared, people cheered and now we can get back to saving the planet - well in 18 months when we've all been vaccinated.