Not My Alpine

Running around in the SAAB again in dull dreary weather. Went to see the restoration workshop that should do the Alpine.

I found 'Mac's in progress' but they seemed to be doing a good job.

We're booked in the October 2022.

SAAB in the forrest ?

Well SAAB off to teat at Hintlesham Hall and their lights were already out.

Another lift only day

Quick dash to Ipswich for the Market in the blusteringly cold wind.

Lifts Galore

AM was Oli in the Passat to go to Flatford with EB.

PM was a lift into deepest Suffolk to listen to a man talking about voice and accent coaching for the Film about Sutton Hoo - two very historic locations covered.

The best I could do

This Aston picture is the best I can do as the weather closes in for Winter.

1 VEV is a DB4 Zagato that I shot at Hampton Court Concours in September 2019. Happy days.

ION: A new C-19 strain (named Omicron) has mutated in Southern Africa so we're banning travel - and our rates are growing again. What chance Xmas ?

Another Aston Day

Well after a night with the de-humidifier running the car was dry - not especially clean - but that's good enough. So off the the re-cycling we went.

Seemed to be going better than ever - but then it was sunny and cold.

ION: Salt on the roads tonight. 

£99 not out - or full

Aston out early for a clean in 3 degrees. So Nappy in place.

Quite dirty as it turned out - so it needed doing. Access all areas.

Also gave the Mk7 a quick going over. That was really filthy.

Then off to the E-type meeting where it created quite a stir - even amongst this company. All very dirty after the rain and roads.

And finally a 'Nice Car Mate' at the garage from a chap. I also hit the £99 max on the pump for the first time - but she was full.

ION: 27 migrants drown in the English Channel trying to come across. 

Off she goes

A nice man with a big yellow truck loaded the Alpine up and off she went - with me following in the trusty SAAB.

Seemed to be in good hands with another Alpine in there already and several classic and modern cars around a busy garage. Then called in on Glevering Chris to help him look at a car. Parked next to a nice Morris Minor.

Then PM Ferrari out for a blast around the block. Great run and felt good. As I keep saying the last before the salt. Why do I want to get rid of it again ?

Followed finally by a couple of Mk7 passenger rides.

ION: C-19 rules start to tighten again in parts of the UK - but Boris says he won't cancel Christmas - so he probably will.

Swapping around

Time to move the Alpine out for the truck tomorrow - so first job was covers off.

Then clear the Golf and tow the Alpine out.

Then Caterham into the external bubble  [must remember to put the top in place before parking the car in there]. So that's tucked away for a while. 

Last year it was February before it went off for the MOT which seems about right.

12 = 8 + rain

Alpine meeting so as we did not have a 4 cylinder I thought I'd double up.

So warmed up the Ferrari for the run - only to see the rain falling down again - so it was the Aston instead.

Bubble 3

E-Type cleaned after putting on the nappy. Mind you water still seemed to get into the engine bay.

This is before the clean - so it did not seem very dirty - but the bucket was full of black water once I had finished.

Then I did a short run, that seemed to turn into a longer run - the car going especially well - before tucking it away into the bubble with over-inflated tyres. Probably that for the Winter is on the now.

Then PM SAAB for load lugging back to Harkstead for clearing jobs.

Final SAAB run back again for BB sitting duties.

Back to 'Normal Service'

A couple of SAAB trips loaded with stuff from Stutton off shoot of the Brazills to clear their junk ahead of another house viewing.

Added some of our own junk and set off to the dump.

Looked at the sky in the afternoon and thought better of it. The cold weather is on the way too so that might be it for Classic activities.

ION: C-19 rates have skyrocketed in some parts of Europe so they are back to lockdowns. Mind you ours have never really fallen.

Moderns Assemble

Well SAAB first thing to Harkstead. The MK7 lift to collect it after walking back home in the bright morning sun.

Then pm was going to be an Aston run in the sunshine ... but then we needed a MK7 dash.

SAAB out to look for the moon rising under the bridge but it was just clouds.

So it ended up as a late evening Aston run to try for some night light trails.

Not bad - but it could do with more structure to the light trails in the background.

Golf cleaned and run about

Mk2 run into town looking good - dirty and on the street.

Looking very smart - and only really retro when you look at the car behind it.

So I gave it a good clean before it went out again.

Not sure you can tell though.

Swedish Stuffing

SAAB to the boat to collect the boat's bedding and cushions.

Then off to Stutton for EB sitting.

Four wheels - sort of

Pumped up the bike tyres and that was enough.

And now for something entirely the same

SAAB run to Harkstead. That's it.

The 'chink chink' of change

Well Mk2 to the bottle bank anyway. Not a full load but it needed the run out.

I keep hoping it will rain hard on it to clean off the dust - but it was only a light mist today.

Replace this lot ?

Sensible option - ride in the MK7 to get the C-19 booster jab.

Then looking at the petrol station I wondered how we were going to replace all this infrastructure with what will be needed to serve Electric cars ?

More SAAB runs but Where is Wally ?

Dull day - dentist first thing so parked the estate in the estate.

The out an about again in the afternoon by the river.

Finally a glimpse of last Summer with a shot in the Ferrari magazine of Culford Car Show.

Can you spot Wally ?

More SAAB shuttling

Several 'Too and fro's in the Swedish workhorse - while the drizzle fell relentlessly.

Including waiting for the verge to be cut. Ho Hum.

ION: It is 1 year since the first C-19 vaccine was announced

Bubbling up for Winter

Not really Winter yet. An unseasonably warm day in fact - even some sun - so stuck to the plan of sorting the bubble for the Imp.

That took an hour - even without the instructions that oddly appeared to be missing from the box. So we went for a very short run to celebrate - just the RHS and back in fact.

Then decided I really should get the hard top on the Alpine - so that meant getting the Aston and the Ferrari out of the garage before I could safely get the top down from the garage loft.

That was another hour to get the top down and then on. Probably worth it in the end if the car is going to be outside some time this winter. In fact it was odd to be sitting in it again.

While I did this I was also inflating the second bubble for the Ferrari, but it took a long time so I started building the frame before it was more than a third up.

Anyway - after that was done I took the 308 out for a final warm up run - again.

ION: at COP26 it looks like the 1.5 target is no longer alive - e.g. the temperature rise is now expected to be 2.4 degrees. There goes the planet. [NB: COP stands for Conference of the Parties].

And now an 8

Just ringing the changes today and warmed the Ferrari up in the morning for a post lunch sunshine run.

Good run although punctuated by two sets of roadworks - one again in Stutton was chaos as it is so long cars were trapped in the middle before the lights could change so were taking to the pavement.

I suspect a bin lorry in the mix did not help much.

Topped up with petrol too as I suspect it might be almost the last run this year.

The joy of 12

Aston to the bottle bank again. I must keep topping that up the save the planet.

Another car that deserves a clean too, but it still looked good and went really well in the cold air.

That Golfing habit

Two Golf off for a drive - well one to ferry us back for walk organisation.

Followed by a short hop to the chandlers.

4 and 6

Warmed and started the Imp for a spin around the block in the early afternoon sunshine.

A bit cold but it went well, although the tick over seems to be getting slower again. Even got though the long set of road works in Stutton - even if I had to get out and tell them the lights were not working. In the 5 mins it took them to fix it 2 cars just went by me into the roadworks.

Also got a double take from a chap enjoying his classic S2 Land Rover - I bet he thought his was the oldest vehicle out that afternoon.

Then dusty E-Type with whistling fan belt - seemed a bit judery so I gave it a 90 mph blast to help clear it out - seemed to go better after that. Even in it's slightly mucky condition it got a point and looks.

Needs a clean though as it is time to think about winter bubbles - so I put the first mat down.

Add Lightness

 Took the plastic cover off the Mk2 to see if I could find any evidence of mouse.

One side was full of leaves and straw but no mouse droppings so probably we'll be ok. There was a large amount though to clear out and then vacuum up.

Then started the E-type and warmed it up for a while.

Finally Golf trip to Harkstead late afternoon ...

... and home in the dark.

It's dark now at 5:00

 Looked out of the window and found it dark (and cold).

So SAAB to RGEA meeting - in the rain and gloom.

The wrong squeaking sound

SAAB to Abbotts for MOT then ride back in Mk7.

Nice retro cars in there at the moment like this 99.

The took the MK2 to town for errand. 

Parked it back and opened the bonnet to put the battery charger back on and a mouse ran across the engine bay and out of the top. Looking later I think it might have been nesting under the plastic tray that captures the drips - I'll have to investigate.

Also checked the Alpine and Caterham but they were ok. Mind you the Caterham had a bit of a mouldy steering wheel ?

Then finally picked up the SAAB with another year on the MOT. 

Thus I will help save the planet by not buying a new car.

Oh and three 'Nil Point' last month, Alpine, E-Type and Caterham - almost a half of the fleet !

Moon-lit Flit

Up very early for the early ferry and off under cold moonlight.

More long queues on to the Ferry.

But an easier (if slightly officious) return through UK customs. The system seemed to be joined up and knew of our paperwork.

The run back was long but clear and got us home early to unpack.