Not a Bang

Rainy day to end the year so no car action at all - other than looking at the miles.

So this month the Aston, Imp, Ferrari and E-type did no miles as most were in their bubbles. The Caterham managed one trip of 5.

Alpine managed to squeeze out 11 this month but won over the year with over 1000.

James managed to get the MK2 to 300 in December after a trip to London and my running around. This just pipped the Alpine but that does not count. 

Over the year the others had respectable miles, the Caterham topped 500 and even the Imp managed over 200 miles.

So ends 2022 - A war still raging in Europe, an economic crisis, political chaos, food and energy bills out of control, multiple strikes and disintegrating social services. Business as usual.

Whimper

So it looks like 2022 is going out with an automotive whimper.

No miles today and more heavy rain tomorrow.

Moderns

Se MK2 rides today with James driving - after I had arranged them on the drive.

It still looks quite modern/retro at the same time. I need to get the headlining sorted though as it's almost fallen off back.

No planets were harmed in the making of this day

No miles either. Just watching the rain falling.

ION: China recently opened up it's draconian C-19 lockdown rules and is now overrun with cases, but has decided to stop publishing figures and open its boarders to the rest of the world. Meanwhile the rest of the world is closing its boarders to China.

Short Trip - Planet Saving

SAAB packed with the results of the weekend - or two - it can't be just one weekend ?

Not the longest of trips - as I only went to the village bottle bank - but that means more planets saved.

Another German Collection

Here we go again - four German Audi and VWs on the drive again.

But it was the SAAB that got the job - Harkstead as normal.

15 wheels on my wagon

Well 4 on the car and another 11 inside.

So yes SAAB runs backwards and forwards to Harkstead and then even Stutton.

Xmas Eve and its SAAB again

SAAB out first thing - to Manningtree for Breakfast en famille. Then Harkstead early afternoon.

Another wet run

Hard rain over night left the roads a bit flooded so I took the SAAB for a quick Harkstead job.

Then watched it 'persist-it' down all afternoon too. At least its keeping the car clean.

More Murk and Trolling

MK2 for a run to Harkstead early afternoon in the murky drizzle.

Had to park up and move the bin before I could get in the drive.

Then SAAB to a very busy Martlesham for shopping. 

The trolling is about the Facebook post I did asking about hotter running plugs. Seems to have 'sparked' quite a discussion about carbs.

But four is better

Alpine on heater again this morning before checking if the plugs might be dirty.

Just a bit - very sooty in fact. Umm I thought I'd cleaned them recently.

Anyway I swapped these BP6E for an old set of BP6ES I had - the car started and ran well too cold for a full lap but enough to be instantly better. Not sure if they are hotter or not though ? Looking them up no -  they are just ones with a copper core.

MK2 back tonight too - so that's good.

ION: Ambulance drivers strike today after the Nurses waked out yesterday and Train drivers at the weekend - oh and the post office last week too. It's going to be a long Winter - but look back at 2021 and it was Covid 19 and a cancelled Christmas. Also today is the shortest day so it's all upside from here !

Three is the Magic Number

Well three is the number of cylinders the Alpine was running on. As the weather looked OK so I started by heating it up for about 2 hours while I did other jobs. However, it would not start. I ended up using carb cleaner on it.

Which did the trick after a few squirts - but it was very lumpy. Seemed to be on three for the whole run to the Stutton bottle bank and back.

A bit disappointing as the last time I took it out (admittedly almost a month ago) it ran fine. I put more carb cleaner in and it just stalled. I'll clean the plugs again tomorrow and see what I find.

However I did spot another of my pics in the Caterham mag which was nice.

Start Again

Early start with a 8:00 am Harkstead run for the builders.

No need to defrost as all the ice has gone for a while - it was wet but 10 degrees. Then back again later to check on progress. Finally back wrapping it up and then into Ipswich to look at flooring.

But in Jaguar related news ...

We are ending the year on a high - although as it is the January 2023 issue is that 'Starting' ?

Teutonic Dominance

A warmer dawn and the cars did not need defrosting. Here they are in all their Teutonic glory.

They were joined by the MK2 as James took it to London for a few days. The Passat is out of view though.

However the Blue Golf was probably built in Mexico and the Audi's could have been China, India or Mexico. However they are mostly now returning to build in Germany again.

Final SAAB run to Harkstead late evening in the rain for jobs.

Defrosting

Just defrosted and then moved the cars around to make space on the drive. The cold snap is receding though so probably the last time we'll need to do that for a while.

Then the visitors arrived. One Golf, one A3 and one Passat I think. Oh what did we do to the British car industry over the years.

Drying or Freezing ?

Washed the MK2 first thing - very cold hands by the time I had finished as it was still around zero degrees

Filled it up with petrol too so it is ready and of course dirty again.

Then SAAB out PM for the Harkstead visit and when I came back it had definitely got colder again.

Then a late evening (and -4 degree trip) to help install a new battery on the Audi. Bugger to get out too as the clamp had stuck on with age. The manual says you need to get a garage to re-set the battery monitoring system - bloody new cars.

Iceland - even inside

Started by defrosting the MK7 for a run only to find this.

Ice on the inside of the car - I guess condensation formed and froze. The car has always suffered from steaming up - even when new.

So we sorted that out quickly and off we went in the cold.

It was -3.5 said the car.

Walked back an hour and a half later and yes - it was very icy. So I had to defrost the SAAB even at 11:30 to collect it.

But then it needed it as I had the regular Harkstead route to do early afternoon. So its getting dirty all over again.

A few car tasks

Started by sorting out the Golf - adding the booster to the kit in the boot. 

Then checked the Tyres, Oil, Water and Screenwash. Also tried to get the roof lining to stick - but it's not looking likely.

Then failed to jet wash the filthy SAAB as the hose was frozen - I'd not expected that. So I cleaned the wheels with a bucket - seemed to work but it needed more.

In the end I took it down to the car wash. Ho Hum.

Also put the Aston on charge - I can't see me using it much in the next couple of weeks.

An excuse to get it out

SAAB out pm for jobs at Harkstead.

Then another latterly in the MK2 - delivering a card.

Then collecting meds for delivery again.

 

No Snow at all ?

AM out into the frost - but no snow - as I had decided to pump the tyres up on the cars in storage - now the salt is on the road and I won't use the cars.

Started with the Ferrari. Easy access through the side of the bubble.

The moved to the other garage for the E-type (not so easy) and Imp which has good access. Tyres were quite low all round on the Imp - 23, 25, 24 and 22 - when they should have been 32. Noticed a little oil dropped on the floor from it as well.

Finally did the trusty (and filthy) SAAB pressures - before a run to the local bottle bank.

SAAB before the snow

Very frosty -5 overnight but it only said -2 in the car. Cleaned the frost SAAB off for PM jobs though.

Then dropped SAAB off, got a ride in the MK7 and we walked up to Harkstead for Xmas jobs - and run back in the cold and dark.

In nice company

 SAAB up country for an E-type lunch in the bitter cold. Had to defrost it before we could get going.

Salt spreading has begun on the roads so no E-types ventured out, although there was a Porsche who parked next to me.

SAAB Shuffling again

Two SAAB jaunts - both to Harkstead.

Then lift in MK7 to Stutton.

Oh I do have all the fun.

Colder though today

SAAB still frozen when I went off this afternoon - for another visit to Nuffield - so I had to defrost the windscreen.

The traffic was bad through town too and the bridge was slow. Cold and dark when we got back.

All in all a great trip.

Then late evening run to look at broken electricals and it was -1 when I came home.

Cold Now

Started the morning with the MK2 to Harkstead for a quick job. Felt cool out there.

Then PM SAAB to RGEA meeting - 2 degrees when we left.

But zero when we got back.

Winter is coming.

Final Bubble and Tiny Van

Started with the outside Bubble for the Caterham. First it needed warming up and moving though.

Oh and sorting out the Xmas trees.

Then late morning a run to Harkstead to patch the shed roof. Took the Caterham with the tools as the sun was shining at last. Jana took the MK7.

Then packed it away in the outdoor bubble for a while. I intend to use it though over winter if it's sunny, so did not inflate the tyres. Which reminds me ...

Tool Time again

Back to Harkstead to install the white goods in the new extension.

Cutting the holes was the worst bit - oh and dismantling the Tumble Dryer to reverse the flue pipe.

All those car skills come in handy.

There was three in there at first

Collected the Christmas trees early this year. Three of them as has become normal - all squeezed into the SAAB.

Time for Town

Another run for the Golf. Into town then home via Harkstead. It needs a wash though.

Then two evening runs in the SAAB - Harkstead for jobs and Chelmo for a meal out.

Germany 4 Sweden 1

So Golf out early for the builders at Harkstead.

Yes that's a roll of bitumen in the Golf boot.

Then back again mid morning to check on progress. Then again early afternoon. Finally another run mid afternoon.

So here we are in the only bit of sun today. 

Then off we went in the SAAB for supplies to B&Q.

Short hop in the gloom

MK2 out in the afternoon to see the Stutton offshoot.

Gloomy and dark when we left at 4:30 though.

Small loads need big cars

A bit of a repeat of yesterday - except this time SAAB to Harkstead for the builders and they were late.

Then Off to B&Q for wood. Well a long but small pole.

Then back to Harkstead early afternoon in the trusty SAAB again.

Miles-wise, last month the three classics in the bubbles rested silently, but the Alpine, Caterham and MK2 managed 267 miles between them. Surprise winner was the MK7 topping 1000 miles. How ?

Which do you want then ?

SAAB out first thing for builders at Harkstead - but they had beaten me too it.

Then MK2 out and about shopping etc. Got a thumbs up from an Audi TT driver on the bypass. I then found a nice Porsche next to me when I came out of the shops.

I might have swapped if he'd offered me some cash to sweeten the deal.

Then SAAB back to Harkstead in the late afternoon as the light went - even at 3:30 it's getting gloomy.

Putting on the miles

SAAB pressed into service again early in the misty morning to meet the builders at Harkstead.

Then a run shopping, and out again to go down to the river for pics.

PM saw us back up to Harkstead and then Shopping again.

Whoo Hoo.

Unseasonable Warmth

SAAB run pm in the drizzle to the shops.

12 degrees at almost three o'clock in late November. Mind you it's very wet - and could be a record.

Back again

SAAB out and about in the same two places as yesterday. First jobs at Harkstead.

Then in the afternoon back down to Shotley to drop off drying bags and take a few pics.

ION: It looks like half the economy will be on strike soon. Train drivers and railway staff, Nurses, College lecturers, Royal Mail workers, Airline ground handlers, some Amazon workers, staff at brewers Greene King, some dock workers, Teachers in Scotland, Oil workers and about 100,000 civil servants. Welcome to the 1980’s indeed.

Swedish Reunion

AM MK2 down to Shotley to test the new camera. Still getting used to it be a sunny and bright day so perfect.

Then pm back down there again to take stuff off the boat.

But we needed both cars - and filled two boots.

Expensive trip

AM - MK7 ride to Colchester to buy camera. 

Then PM - SAAB and MK7 jaunts to Harkstead for walk.

The Early Bird avoids the rain

Heavy rain was coming again so I was up and at 'em and by 9:00 I'd changed the SAAB battery and was tidying up.

I attached the battery charger to try to fool the car into thinking it was still connected to a battery. That failed but resetting the clock etc. did not take much time anyway - actually likes time than trying to avoid it.

Then ride in the MK7 and run in the SAAB before the rain came back.

Bubble #3 and the first Electric Aston

The day started dry but overcast so I decided to get the Imp into the bubble.

First though I wanted to move the Alpine so the Imp could sit under cover as the weather looked 'iffy'. So after an hour on the fan heater the Alpine started (almost) first time and ran very well. Did some jobs...

... then continued around the block.

As I was doing so I was also heating the Imp. So more jobs while that was warming and out it came. Started after a few goes but ran well.

The bubble took about 20 minutes to inflate and then I took about 40 mins to construct the frame inside, but that did include cutting down two poles that really were too long and having to re-construct one end that I had done incorrectly.

So that complete I packed up. 

The weather was not good enough to risk the Imp in the afternoon, however it was good enough to get the Aston out and go and buy a new battery for the SAAB.

I also did some Secret Santa Shopping while I was at it.

Finally as the car was still looking very clean and the night was dry I went down to Felixstowe to my new favorite spot to take a pic of the Aston at night. Not so easy with a dark car. But pleasing never the less.

Back to Van

Well - SAAB as works van again for the Harkstead gutters stage 2.

Then storm swept in so no more activity.

However I did notice the SAAB was very hard to start - sluggish - so I'd better get that battery changed. Checking it's six years old so par for the course.