Thursday, 31 December 2020

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.




Wednesday, 30 December 2020

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.

Tuesday, 29 December 2020

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.

Monday, 28 December 2020

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 ?

Sunday, 27 December 2020

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.





Saturday, 26 December 2020

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.

 

Friday, 25 December 2020

Followed by the Swede

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


But the sun was shining.




Thursday, 24 December 2020

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.

Wednesday, 23 December 2020

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.

Tuesday, 22 December 2020

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.


Monday, 21 December 2020

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.

Sunday, 20 December 2020

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.

Saturday, 19 December 2020

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.

Friday, 18 December 2020

Drew a blank

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

Thursday, 17 December 2020

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.


Wednesday, 16 December 2020

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.



Tuesday, 15 December 2020

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.

Monday, 14 December 2020

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.

Sunday, 13 December 2020

Ditto

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

Saturday, 12 December 2020

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.





Friday, 11 December 2020

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.

Thursday, 10 December 2020

Just vans on the drive

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



Wednesday, 9 December 2020

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).

Tuesday, 8 December 2020

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.

Monday, 7 December 2020

Bookish

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


Sunday, 6 December 2020

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.


Saturday, 5 December 2020

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.

Friday, 4 December 2020

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.




Thursday, 3 December 2020

SAAB in the rain

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

Wednesday, 2 December 2020

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.



Tuesday, 1 December 2020

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.