Packing in the rain

The last day is supposed to be like this.

But the rain eased and we started on the packing - and the admin to come home.

Which was hard and involved trips to get signal and four phones.

PM final walk to the Temple of Mars and past a farm - Rolands I suspected.

It's all Glamour at the Dump

Seemed bust Saturday morning - loading the SAAB with garden waste amongst the visitors cars. Miranda and Francis from Thursday and Anthony from Friday. 

Bumped into another Brit at the dump - he joked hos friends think it's all glamour living in France.

But car looking good - glad I cleaned it.

Then run to Dinard and more shopping.

To the coast

SAAB out to the coast for a long walk in the later October sunshine.

Shopping SAAB

 Off to a busy Dinan - Town and Market and then the port for looking and Supermarket for shopping.

Found a familiar parking spot but it felt odd to be back there again.

Building Back Better

Well building banisters back better in the end. After two more runs to the shops for bits.

PAPERS !

Arrived in France early and spent a long time queuing to get through customs.

Some had UK stickers, some had GB and some had no stickers at all.

Then a PM run to the DIY super store for old times sake - and to buy a banister rail kit.

Just like old times ?

SAAB loading for the first trip to France for almost 16 months. 

Final administrative hoops jumped through and off we went - via RHS Wisley as per...

Busy port and not well organised queue but we presented our PAPERS and we're through. This chap was taking the phrase 'a man and a van' a bit too literally.

Why is this so difficult ?

SAAB out an about for jobs and stuff first thing. Came back to a packed driveway.

After lunch dropped off my rides and watched all the classic cars on the sunny dry roads. Then instead of taking the Ferrari out I had a Mk7 ride to check the boat - passing more classics as we went.

Finally decided it was now or never and went to get the car out.

Not a bad choice ...

... but chose the 308 as planned. Glad I did as it started and went exceedingly well.

Good Bye GB

AM Quick visit to fix heating control (again) in Harkstead.

PM Stuck the new UK sticker on the car. What a stupid decision to drop the GB for political reasons.

Late PM off to Pin Mill for a bash :(

ION: C-19 cases rocketing again - Boris waiting for evidence before the next wave of regulations come in

Wash and brush-up

Washed the SAAB firth thing in the sunshine.

I used the jet wash to get under the wheel arches and do the allows which were thick with muck. Came up well. Then a quick errand and fill with petrol.

PM impending rain stopped play with the red one in the background. Ho Hum.

A bit of a mix

MK7 off to get our Flue jabs and came across this poor use of LED lighting.

Looked like a Lego car designed by a 5 year old.

The found the same 5 year old had drawn the 'disabled bay' sign at the garden centre.

Then I fixed the Mk2 exhaust by making up a rubber hanger. Then noticed it was two short.

So I had to fit another one - I really needed to get the car on the ramps but managed it anyway. No knocks when we went around the block though.

Then I fixed the washer. Then sorted the SAAB out for France.

Finally a run in the SAAB for photo of the rising moon.

Dash in the Dark

Decided to get off my ass and go out in the Aston as the skies were clear and the sun was setting.

A full moon was rising under the bridge on the way back too.

That banging noise is back

MK2 down to Felixstowe for a bracing walk.

I could hear a banging noise from the rear on the way again - checked and yes ...

... a broken hanger on the exhaust.

On the job list then.

More Ark Action

Ride in MK7 to Titchmarsh - to see friends.

Passed this again.

Looking more like an Ark each time I see it. What do they know ?

ION: It is estimated that we need FIVE times the electric generation capacity to meet Carbon Net Neutral

Swapping and the Fezza

SAAB to Harkstead and Mk7 back for a walk.

Then as the late sun was out the Ferrari around the block - nice run too.

Every time I use it I decide I'll keep it and find another way to change/expand the fleet.

Two quick SAAB jaunts

Run to the ford at Kersey in the afternoon. 

The main change is the number of cars - and probably the frequency the  arrive - I had to get out if the road all the time.

Then short hop to Oli's for a job.

Golf to Bond

Started the Caterham after several weeks of inactivity - quite easily actually - even after a month.

Then passenger in Mk7 to see the Bond film. Verdict - very good but different.

Lot's of car action as usual. The original DB5, the 1970's Aston Martin V8, then the current DBS which looked (and sounded) good. Also a glimpse of the Valhalla which could have been anything to be honest.

Then struggled like two old gits failing to understand the car parking machine.

Finally spotted a shot of Ipswich in the late 1960's with this picture in Trongs - the Chinese restaurant.

Looks like an 1965 Imp (still on the DVLA) and a Hillman Hunter (probably 1967 - but unknown to the DVLA).

Autumnal Rut

Not a lot of classic (or other car) action at the moment.

SAAB to Stutton for a short hop was about it.

Contain your panic

Just a quick SAAB run out to Felixstowe just to see the containers stacked up.

 Oh well.

Another 'in-progress'

Seen this one before and the progress is slow.

Then R2G and home as the rain started.

G2R for a short sail

Short sail across to Titchmarsh - instead of taking a car out it was OK.

Visited two boats - one of them needs a bit of work though.

Mascot Perhaps ?

Seven down 9 letters ? 

Well it sounded like a cross word clue.

Started the day with a run in the MK2 ready to go into a misty day but with clean windows to the ECR meeting at Bridge Classics.

As we arrived the in drizzle got worse and ended up in rain so I had to give them credit for the large turn out.

Bridge had their Alpine front and centre and I spoke to the boss for a while.

He was unconcerned that the car was supposed to be the 'first James Bond car' but as all us geeks know that car was a S2.

Then SAAB for short hop and BB sit.

Finally as the sun was out at last the Imp around the block. When I removed the cover I found this stuck to the radiator.

A large dragonfly. 

Anyway even with out the mascot the car ran well in the cool air, although the tick over seems to be slipping back a bit.

Not doing that today

Looked at the fan belt I've bought for the E-type and it seems far too long - will give it a go but not today.

Started the Imp up though - churned for a while but started well. 

I thought it had been a long time but it was only 3 weeks - so I ran it up to temperature for 20 mins.

Then SAAB for short local hop and finally Aston out to save the planet in the dying sun.

Sitting it out

Just a Friday admin day really.

Liquid hoarding

Well SAAB out to re-fill the cans with E5 super for the rainy day.

Let's hope we don't need to use them.

Mind you I forgot I had a full tank in the Alpine - I might drain off some of that.

Then off to town for more jobs - well buying wine actually so we're hoarding that too.

Green Dragon

SAAB out for jobs first thing - and then for petrol. Tesco was queuing but not the local site.

Saw this Lamborghini monster at the traffic lights on the way. Reg 500 XR - it does not show on the DVLA site ... but it is a URUS - no sniggering at the back now.

Then RGEA meeting in the evening - so took the SAAB again - well it's full now.

Only a lone Tiger in the car park.

But I did get my next magazine cover.

It's only rain

Holbrook road partially flooded in the normal dip when I passed on the way to take the MK7 in for a service - SAAB pottered though it.

Then more flooding at Freston too.

Finally the road was also blocked at Spraughton by the garage. What a mess.

Not a fan of this

Tried to replace the fan belt on the E-Type. Covered the tyre as it was full of berries.

The new one was far too small. No way could I make it fit. Research shows 3 sizes ! I'll see what I can find.

The short Mk7 hop to the boat to check her after the storms. Oh and pick up some petrol for the lawn mower.

A chink in the Autumn weather

SAAB out to get petrol for the lawn mower - the Harvest site was closed though - no fuel.

So Ferrari out and about - a bit dusty but ran well. Looks warm though.

Good job too as an hour later it was 'persisting' it down again.

The shortest of hops

Battered by rain and wind - so SAAB out for utility run - after EB played for a while in the Caterham.

Must get that fixed this month.

More rainy weather stops play

Seem to be in a run - car wise. Need to get several fixed and no pressure to do so.

PLAN - make timetable, fall behind, add pressure !