Normal service resumed

Riding around in the A3 first thing as passenger. It's a very nice car although needs a clean - oh and the dents and scratches fixing. Then SAAB for work and a dump run. Odd to pass Pond Cottages with someone else in there now.

On the way back I filled it up with 65 litres of E10 - a cool £104.79. The first time in many years it's hit over £100 and that was the cheap stuff.

Celebrated by burning more hydrocarbons and took the Caterham around the block. Tiny car.

Double Golf - Plus One

MK2 off to see the Stutton Brazill's - seems a VW team meeting was taking place.

Not sure which car was dustier though. 

Then a return MK2 trip to drop off all the Pond Cottages keys as it sold today. I suspect the returned money will burn a hole in my 'car pocket' now...

Finally a MK7 run to the other Brazill in Harkstead - a bit cold for classics at the moment.

Aston Again

Cold afternoon so chose the Aston again for another supermarket sweep - Tesco this time.

What a life.

Eight wheels, the Aston and a squeeze

SAAB out first thing with visit to the C-19 booster clinic - wheelchair access is needed now - glad the boot swallows it. So that was Eight wheels in total.

Then PM run to the boat in the Vantage. A much smaller boot but it held the tools I wanted. When we arrived they had tried to squeeze a boat in beside us again and the unhappy owner was on board - luckily they moved him while we were there.

Then Jobs done - home again. Grey cars and a grey day.

ION: As the war in the Ukraine continues to drag on, it is moving west to Russian controlled areas of Moldova and Russia has cut off Oil and Gas fuel supplies to Poland and Bulgaria - interesting to see how that is dealt with.

Finding faults

Very dusty Golf off to town first thing. Looked fine standing in the sunshine although I had cleaned the windows.

Then later the Alpine regulator arrived so I fitted that. A bit hard to get everything unscrewed and when I had it off I noticed a bare wire that could have been shorting on the engine bay ?

However, it's done now and the new one might last a bit - we'll see.

Then in the cold late afternoon I took the Alpine around the block - in fact it went very well.

Less Hydrocarbons

Gave the whole driving malarkey a rest today.

Mind you our road was closed again - due to more water works - watching the buss reverse back was amusing.

I did pop in and check the Imp levels though - water fine and oil had used about an 8th on the stick so a half pint possibly. 

Which was good - and about the same as last year's run. However not much splashed into the Spark Plug recesses this time. Which was even better.

Well - someone thought it was the 'Star of the Show'

Very early start with the Imp off to Kersey Mill for the Drive it Day meeting. Lots of cars there and glad we chose to arrive early again - this time via the A12 - as it was very busy.

Chatted to several people admiring the Imp - one said he thought it was the best car there. Not sure I agree but top 10 I'd say. Also not sure what this other chap was doing though - looks like he's testing the handbrake is on.

On the run back home the clutch seemed harder to balance/slip but it might have been getting hot with a lot of stop-start use.

Then the E-Type out in the late sunshine too with it's whistling fan belt.

Backwards and forwards in time

AM was the ECR Foxhall Aviation Museum meet up. I took the Ferrari which was a bit over the top.

A few nice interesting cars to shoot like this SAAB 900 Turbo I jazzed up.

Then in the afternoon I put petrol in the Imp. It does look small compared to 'normal' cars.

Then I decided to do the bottle bank in the Aston - which was very dusty inside so it got a clean.

Jumping from the Imp to the Aston was a bit of a re-adjustment.

Then I thought why not ? and gave the Caterham a run. It felt rough for the first few miles then settled down. It's not getting its fair share of miles.

And finally when I thought driving was over - a SAAB run to Harkstead in the late sunshine.

This is what my brain was feeling like when I drove back several hours later in the dark.

Irregular voltage

Alpine to Harkstead in the afternoon sun - going well.

Until the run home when the ammeter started to jump around - looks like the voltage regulator has died. So new one on order this evening.

More mucking around

Decided to top up the Alpine gearbox so jacked the car up.

I drained the old oil out which was not too black but was a bit low - there was about 1 1/2 pints in it and I read it should be 2 3/4. 

Hard to get any pipes in from the bottom so I used a tube stuck in another tube through the hole cut in the transmission tunnel from the top.

I managed to get 3 pints in before I thought it was enough but I then re-read the guide and with overdrive it is 4 pints. However that's going to be enough for now.

Then SAAB back to the boat in Ipswich and a sail home. Then driven in the Golf MK7 to Ipswich to pick the SAAB up and drive it home again.

Luckily we have all these cars.

Is there really a hole ?

Started slowly with checking the Imp oil and water. It needed a pint of oil - that was all. 

Nice sight though through the door. Then pottered with the Alpine first thing looking for the filler for the gear box that should be on the top of the gear box ? I took off the bung to access the hole but no.

So it went back together again and I just cleaned the carpets and went to fill it up with petrol, but the road was closed yet again so they could dig a hole to repair the water leak (again).

But in fact it was open so the cars were just splashing past the water leak. Once back I cleaned out the Golf too.

PM I took the Ferrari out in the cold sunshine. Then used the Alpine as a delivery van with bitumen roofing to Oli's. Removal men came to have a look and liked it too.

German to Swede, Swede to Swede, Swede and German together

OK - makes sense when you know. First thing Golf MK7 down to the boat and then we sailed it up to Ipswich Haven Marina. Here we are in the sunshine.

Then SAAB home again which we'd left in their car park overnight. Then James took the MK2 to Oliver's followed by us in the SAAB again for EB's 'official' Birthday.

Finally Jana took the SAAB back home and I dropped James off at the station in the MK2.

Cleaned and dropped off

SAAB cleaned first thing - came up nicely - although I can't seem to unblock the rear wiper water jets.

Then PM dropped it off at Ipswich Haven Marina - to use it tomorrow when we sail in.

Sturdy SAAB runs

Three SAAB runs throughout the day. Mainly Harkstead and jobs. Packed as usual.

Imp gets an airing

MK7 as transport first thing to Snape. Then in the afternoon the Alpine out for a quick job.

Then late trip in the cold sunshine to the Marina in the Imp with MK7 as back-up.

And colder run home too.

I can see his point but ...

Alpine out early in the sunshine to pick James up from the station. You can see the visiting BMW lurking in the background.

Then a walk to see the Stutton Brazills and ride back in the MK2 with James driving - felt odd being driven.

Finally a SAAB jaunt for a take-away in the evening and observing another BMW - this time 'parked' across two bays.

Nice car but not sure it deserved that treatment ?

I think that's five

Aston washed first thing in the sunshine.

That's five of the Magnificent Seven cleaned this week I think. The Golf was last week.

Then Mk2 back to Ipswich and a visit to the dentist. Where I was passed by this on the walk back - a Morris 8 Series E tourer I'm told from the late 1930's ?

Italian stallion washed and fed

HEAM - well 9:30 which was civilised.

Then after jobs I 'wet dusted' the Ferrari to clean it - although the water was actually quite dirty by the time I had finished. It came up well though.

Then a quick run (the road works have vanished) to get petrol. That's another car filled this month - I'll add it all up soon but it feels a lot.

ION: The UK inflation rate rose to 7% in the year to March, the highest rate since 1992. It will go higher too as the energy cost rises have not yet been factored in. However the chap with the brand new BMW 8 Series Convertible - possibly a M850i - I spoke to in the Co-Op is probably is not that worried.

Long way around

New roadworks have cut us off from Ipswich again - so we have to go the long way around to get out of the village.

First though a short MK2 hop to Harkstead early afternoon - then followed by a longer run to the marina in the sunshine to drop stuff off.

The Golf got filthy (dusty) going through the lanes on the back roads.

Then I decided to take the E-type to the recycling - but that was a long detour and slow run due to the traffic building.

I also thought I should get petrol on the way back as we were very low - only to find that the station had no E10 (the 95 Octane) - which was fine as I wanted the E5 and the 97.

Three Cleans

Cold but bright mid-morning so I decided to wash the Imp.

'Wash' is probably a bit strong as I really just gave it a 'wet-dust' then leather off and then a clean cloth for the final dry and buff. It came up well.

Then I did the same with the E-Type.

The water was still clean (ish) so I also did the Alpine ready to use later.

But by early afternoon it was already dusty with pollen and got more so when I went back to Oli's and the building site.

Then late run with him and EB to the boat and back in the MK7.

ION: C-19 is everywhere including the Beeches now. Let's just hope it's the mild variant.

Four rides

SAAB first thing to Oli's to cut the lawn when they were at the hospital again.

Then back with the Alpine and the strimmer.

PM was another run out making the most of the good weather. The E-Type first - via the allotment and B&Q.

The fan belt is still making odd noises from time to time.

Then Imp around the block followed by the Caterham - which needed petrol.

ION: There is a diesel shortage as garages run out due to protesters blocking the refineries.

Completed the set

Shot the missing one and then the Imp to complete the set.

Then washed the very dirty MK2 and left it to dry.

So I took the Alpine (which also needs a wash) up to Harkstead.

Then Golf out for petrol. 

The weather turned but I did get the Ferrari out for a run at the end of the afternoon but it turned too cold for the Imp which was the plan. Maybe tomorrow.

Lots of Shots

Seems like the MK2 is the chosen one.

First thing I spent time shooting some of the fleet for the new Insurance company. Six each of the Caterham, Alpine, E-Type and Ferrari - except I missed one shot - Dho !

Then a run to help Oli in the MK2 - the rain did eventually fall on the dirty car so now it looks really muddy again.

In addition we did used the MK7 as well - for a visit to Harkstead - as it has ISO fixings for EB's car seat.

More 'Modern' ish runs

Weather still poor - windy and wet.

So MK2 first thing to Stutton - and parked next to the big telehandler.

Meaty looking Abbott racing SAAB AERO went by at the same time. Not a fan of the lights though.

Then SAAB for another utility run into Ipswich and back. Decided to park on the grass and it seemed easier to unload the patient too.

Although that meant I also forgot to unload the wheel chair from the boot - DHO !

ION: C-19 rates continue to rise as infections hit a record high of c5m with the new Omicron variant 2 being to blame. Oh and the war rages on, inflation is rising, taxes are up and there seems to be a fuel shortage on the horizon again. Happy Days.

Another Tale of Two Golfs

MK7 AM for hospital taxi - then I took it over for the final leg.

Mk2 PM for the Alpine meeting in the rain and the dark. One Tiger did turn up from Norwich way - brave man.

Spinning wheels

Just seem to be waiting for the good weather to come back.

SAAB early for jobs as it was still loaded up from yesterday - until I had to stop for the oil delivery that was blocking the road.

Then after lunch MK2 into town.

Finally 308 around the busy block - school time and roadworks.

Most interesting thing was being followed home by a blue pre-war convertible - possibly a Riley Linx or an Alvis that turned off into Freston.