Boot and Bump

SAAB out for a Harkstead run only to find the boot filthy - after it had been used or jobs last week.

Then on the way I bumped the curb so that's another wheel knocked.

Mini-Van

Dreary start to the day with rain. Then spotted this on a forum.

A shot of the real sized Bedford van, and I thought we had one somewhere.

Looks like ours has a very heavy load in it though.

Then SAAB for a jaunt as the day ebbed away quickly - the clocks have gone back.

Four and Four

So Golf MK2 out early - it's getting used but it's also getting very dirty.

Then more moving of the big ones to get the top box back off the Passat.

Finally a short SAAB run to Felixstowe for a walk.

Twelve and Eight

Aston to planet saving again. Two boxes plus some fabric so almost a net gain.

Then as I wanted to prop up the Alpine hard top I got the Ferrari out too. It seemed a poor show not to take it out for a run - a long one as it turned out including a trip to the shops.

Sort of fits

Bought a load of cheap plastic clips for the cars to try to get the SAAB fittings back in place. 

Sort of works OK but they are a slightly different colour the black one on the left is the new one. I might change the lot though as only a few old ones have survived.

Only a slight chance of rain

Waved goodbye to a very large Peugeot on the drive first thing.

Then E-type run up country to a club lunch - a few sprinkles on the way there but arrived to find a select team waiting. Only two E-types but there was the 911 Turbo S Cabriolet there too looking brutal.

The it tipped it down over lunch time - resulting in a bit of a wet car.

I bet that washed the salt away from the Felixstowe run and by the time we got home you would have been hard to notice.

Finally, MK2 up to Harkstead for jobs.

G2R Autumn Edition

MK7 again today - this time down to the boat. A day sailing in the exceptionally warm late October sunshine. Boat looking good in the morning sun.

Got back and off before the rain too.

ION: Another new Prime Minister started today as Rishi Sunak met King Charles. Looking back a lot has changed since September 6th.

Beer from the Coast

MK7 off to Aldborough to pick up friends then to Southwold for the Adnams Brewery tour. Spotted these trucks in this photo.

Research says possibly late 1940's and Leyland Truck.

Then Golf back again later that night.

Car Seat Capers

Not had a car seat in a SAAB for many years. But here is EB in one. 

With us as we were babysitting - we went to Harkstead - then Stutton - then home as Monty had a visit to the Heath for the afternoon.

Sparks !

Thought I'd take the Alpine out for a run to Felixstowe this afternoon.

Sounded rough when I started it and did not settle down - pop, bang and misfire. Sounded like it was only on three cylinders (or even two) so after 100 yds I came home deflated and put it away.

So it was the Golf that got the run.

Then investigated the Alpine. I thought I'd disconnect a lead to see if it made any difference. Not to one of the plugs - no change in tempo but a large spark jumping from the end of the lead to the metal retaining clip on the cap.

Same to a lesser extent on another plug. There was also oil around those two. So a new set of leads and a cap on the way.

ION: I've upgraded the iPhone so the pictures may be different from now on

This isn't the 'Garage time' you are looking for

Spent about 1 1/2 hours in the garage today - cleaning a glass pan.

Yep.

Gone in 90 seconds

Rainy day SAAB hop to the shops - shadowed by the MK7.

ION: Truss is gone in 90 seconds - a resignation speech - the shortest ever serving PM only 45 days.

 

Attention seeker - Moi ?

The day started with a Dr. visit by SAAB and the extra 4 wheel carrier. The road to Harkstead was still closed and I got stuck behind a lorry who looked lost.

By the time I got back home it was almost 12:00 so I decided that lunch on the coast for Mr. E and I would lighten the mood. We headed off to get some food on the way, followed a nice Z4 into the car park and the chap leapt out to take a pic.

His granddad worked on the gear box apparently.

So the attention seeking ? Well, parking the E-type on the busy street in Felixstowe was just that I thought. Even if I did leave quite a lot of room to begin with.

I eat my lunch watching for a. people looking at it and b. cars parking close to it. Not sure what was more worrying. 

Nice run home via Manningtree where I was told that 'the chap in the Merc' that parked next to me 'had huge Car Envy'. Then back via the petrol station only to be greeted by a chap who loved it too. 

As I know too well, after 60 years it can definitely still turn heads - young and old.

Finally SAAB Uber out again for a train station pick-up.

Perfect day for a drive

Decided to take the Imp out for another adventure. Not a cloud in the sky so no rain expected. Off we went to East Bergholt to take some pictures. Not that far away really and we went the long way to avoid the very narrow lanes.

The Imp went exceedingly well - must like the cool sunshine too. Parked outside a nice house for some pics but there were few suitable ones. Turns out it's only 8 miles there though.

After some photos I bought lunch and ended up down at the river at Brantham as a place to eat it. Stalled the car coning into the very busy and tight carpark but managed to reverse into the space ok. 

Leaving was better though almost smooth you might think. Home the long way so in all about 22 miles.

Then Caterham to Harkstead for jobs - including lugging a huge cushion full of feathers. Found the road closed (again) so there the long way.

In fact home the very long way to stretch it's legs.

Golf earning its keep

Running around on jobs this afternoon.

Bentley first - the place not the car.

Then into town for recycling, food shopping and dropping stuff off to the charity shop.

ION: New chancellor U-Turns on all but a few baked-in budget measure - back to where we were under Boris it seems.

Cool Cat ...ish

Sunny and warm start to the day (for October anyway) so took the Caterham around the block via the allotment to help.

Then a quick trip in the Imp trying to video it. Not a great success - but a learning curve.

Funny thing was that I then spotted us in the paper - well the Suffolk News anyway.

Finally ran Jana to the station in the SAAB  for her late train to London - too dreary by then for more classic capers though.

Light still on

SAAB early run up to Harksteead and brought back even more stuff to sort out.

Noticed the 'Check Engine' light is resolutely still on.

Then PM Golf out and about - well back to Harkstead. 

Finally Alpine in the afternoon sun which went well although the rear brakes seemed to be making a noise. Nice to get some fresh air for my cold though.

The economic shit show rolls on

Well not much on the car front. SAAB run to the dump for a change. Then some drizzle.

ION: The PM sacks the Chancellor and makes another U-turn on tax policy. Market still not clear it's enough - and I doubt she is either.

Box Shifting - and that light

SAAB early afternoon run - Harkstead and Town.

Then Stutton and shift the top box over.

That was after filling it with Oli's rubbish for the dump. Exciting stuff except I noticed the 'Check Engine' light was back on.

3 x Swede vs 0.25 x Italian

... and a smattering of British

SAAB out mid morning to open the Stutton fortress as no keys were available !

Then the planned Harkstead-Holbrook shuffle again.

PM was putting on the roof box on the SAAB to transfer it to the Passat.

So we moved the cars around again. All done and we'll see if the transfer works tomorrow.

I decided to take the Ferrari out but just as I did it started to rain so we only did 25% of the run.

Finally drop off t get the MK7 - so SAAB 3 others not a lot.

Back at last

Today started by moving out the Alpine so I could move the Caterham. The Alpine was very rough and hard to start. It did settle down though. I managed to fix the headlight - it was a bad earth inside the bowl, Dropped a small bolt while I was at it and could not find it for a long time.

It was balanced on the steering arm.

The indicators were harder. Nothing seemed to work. Eventually I jiggled the wires in the loom near the bulk head and it came back on - then it went off again. Then jiggled made it come back on and off.

So somewhere in the loom is probably a cracked wire. We'll have to see how it goes.

Then I got a call that the Golf was ready at last. New disks and pads all round.

Looked good in the October sunshine.

Then Alpine out and around the block - it went well and the heater even worked.

New bit of Ipswich

Harkstead in the afternoon for a visit to Howdens - the Kitchen showroom. I found a good backdrop for photos if the light is right.

SAAB looking clean too.

Any Excuse

AM run to the dump in the SAAB to get rid of the rest of the dead grass.

Then PM bottle bank in the Aston - although I was thwarted twice. First Tesco had no 'banks' and then the bridge was blocked so I ended up in Chelmo.

Oh well at least the planet is save for the night.

Props and Wheels

Not a vintage aircraft show but the ECR 10 year meet. An all day event so took lunch and Mr. E.

Also had the driving gloves prop Nigel gave me.

They seemed to fit in nicely.

Also over 300 cars all told on a sunny Saturday in October.

Then jobs including a dump run in the trusty SAAB.

Staying put ... ish

Shak's pony first thing to the MK7 which was still parked in Stutton. The home again for facilities and the run to London to pick up the Aston - which was looking good.

Then nothing as it looked like rain again.

Five Star Review ?

Played at Unber Driver all day for the wedding.

Started by driving James over to Oliver's late morning to get ready and get the car seat in position. First problem was that the ribbons made the badge collapse - but it was fine.

Not sure I qualified for the 5* Uber rating though.

Then Bridesmaids to the church and the reception, the car was nice to drive but seemed sluggish - a Euro barge perhaps ? So Nigel had two of his fleet there.

Then on the run to take James to the train station I managed to find the kickdown and unleash the 2.3 strait 6. That's a bit better. 

Finally home and parked up for the night.

Undercover SAAB

Well SAAB spent another night under cover - ish.

Then into town for hair cut - all the good stuff. So it deserved a nice pic.

Then dressed the Merc with ribbon for tomorrow.

Then finally a late train station pick-up for James.