Rewarded for Trying

Decided to look at the wiring for the Caterham flasher so got my warm cloths on and bit the bullet.

I did cheat and have the fan heater on to take the chill off the car (well me). It turned out to be a simple fix with the bullet connector having come lose. So with in 30 mins I'd sorted it.

However on checking the lights I had only one main beam working. So that was traced to another loose connection in the wiring. Umm - it looks a bit ratty all over so I'm sure it will go again. Test drive worth the effort though in the cold sunshine.

Then SAAB for jaunt PM - only to find the rear tyre completely flat. Odd - I only pumped then up yesterday. So MK2 pressed into service.

On return I pumped the SAAB back up and it seems to be a slightly sticky valve causing the problem. Lets see if it goes down again over night.

Barking Mad and Seven's Turn

Morning pottering collecting and delivering 8 large bags of bark in the back of the SAAB.

Then got the fan heater out for a pre-warming of the Caterham. Nice to see very little water under the car too when I unzipped the bag.

While that was happening I did the tyres on the SAAB - mostly fine though. Then a run around the block and then a bridge shot with the Seven.

Local Collection and Drop Off

Just MK7 to collect the SAAB from the pub.

Then to the bottle bank in the village. 

Dull day really.

Taxi Taxi

SAAB out and about to B&Q first thing.

Then to pick up James and have lunch, and drop him back. Afternoon Harkstead run and then evening to pick-up James again.

Finally left overnight at the Freston Boot for a meal.

SAAB earing its keep as usual.

Why don't I just get a Van ?

SAAB loaded up again for the latest project at Harkstead.

Then during the job I discovered I'd bought the wrong leg - so MK7 lift (for an hour) to swap it out.

Unloaded in the dark - just like old times.

Buzz Buzz SAABee

SAAB with painting equipment etc. up to Harkstead client first thing.

Then PM back with the extra four wheels to the Nuffield.

Late evening run to Wicks - but back via town as the bridge was blocked - as was town it turned out with the Wherstead Road dug up again - so it took me almost an hour and a half.

Alpine News

... but not good news. It seems the underside of the rear wings are a complete bodge too.

Just bits of random metal making up the inner arch - hard to work out what it means - but that's going to need replacing too.

Then PM works van to Harkstead again.

Wrong Time - Wrong Place - Wrong Car

Wrong Person too.

Aston out late morning to see the new Ferrari Purosangue - a brute of a 4x4 - after the Ferrari Club said it was in Colchester at Jardines. Here it is through the glass as they did not get round to showing it to me - even after 40 mins.

Perhaps it was because I parked the Aston outside ?

Whatever - I found my pictures and left the mag open at that page for a laugh.

PM - SAAB to Wicks for checker plate - far more my type of shop.

Busy Busy Busy - doing nothing

Well SAAB out first thing - Harkstead to Shotley and back. The car park was being worked on so no where to park.

Then PM I decided on a dump run - although I forgot some stuff - Dho.

Back to Dull

Lift in MK7 for an abortive photo walk.

Then PM SAAB to Harkstead and Stutton for Birthday cake. I should treat myself to another car - or at least another shed !

Short Hops and Doing the Ton

MK2 into town for the first hair cut of the year. Street was full - but then it was Saturday. Then off to shopping for liquid refreshment where there was much more space.

Then PM a SAAB and MK7 shuffle for a walk.

Finally filled up the SAAB as it's got lots of work to do again next week. Hit the Ton exactly.

Longer run in the cold

Managed to get up the courage to warm the Caterham up in the afternoon. I'd thought about it in the morning but there was still ice in the birdbath which put me off.

Anyway set the heater on it for 40 mins and we were off.

So where else ? Bottle bank and around the block. I was snug and warm and I really should have done it before. Oh for more garaging.

I even got the flash and wave from a lorry driver and a nice comment from a couple walking their dog.

Short hop in the bitter cold

MK2 up to Harkstead as planned because the SAAB was iced-up solid again. Only -1 apparently but it felt a lot colder. Nice bright day though.

Then MK7 ride to the other end of the Brazill empire for a walk.

I scream you scream - we all scream for Windscreen

Looked at the replacement Alpine screen surround this morning.

Seems doable although one bolt is slightly bent and there is rust on some of the fittings.

Then MK2 back to an old stomping ground to pick up a package for James. I parked just off Portman Road near the Ex-TXU office. Felt odd looking at the car park I used so often - I remember the Citroen DS busting it's pipe and spilling fluid everywhere - still got it to the garage with no brakes nor powered steering.

15 Miles - but far, far more to go

SAAB to Harkstead first thing in the bitter cold.

It felt all of -4 too.

Placed the order for the two Alpine front wings 

Then off to Lee Scott's to collect the screen etc. He'd cut out the near side sill and found some metal behind it to weld a new on into - so that's encouraging. Also the front wing was off and there was some solid metal under that too.

Brought home the glass - and it's exactly 15 miles if you go the right way.

So now what ?

Just more SAAB shuffling

An East Bergholt run - in the SAAB of course.

Lots of salt on the roads on the way back too.

No E's

Off to Cambridge (Histon) in the MK7 to take pics of Ray's band - a few club members came along but no E-types at all. However, I made the right decision as to cars, as there was no parking at the pub.

Then late PM SAAB with tools for a Harkstead work visit. Ah ... that reminds me I need to use it Monday and it smells and is dirty !

Another dump run

SAAB again pm - this time full of rubbish from Oii's garage as we clear it out for the wall to be built.

Where there's Muck

There is usually much more muck.

SAAB out first thing to be loaded with 16 large bags of spent mushroom compost (again). Seemed to be wetter and dirtier than the last time.

Then PM run to Harkstead - but no bags this time just a the usual tools to look at the threshold.

A lot of Horrors and a little Victory

 SAAB down to see the Alpine. Umm - that's going to cost a lot. And then a lot more. The filler was masking a lot of poor work. I could hardly lift up the bag of filler they had already stripped off and there is much more to come.

Those are lumps of filer on the boot and they have not even got to my bodges. So its going to need 2 new wings and a lot of metal in the rears too. £££££.

The small victory - I managed to get the 'Time for a Service' message deleted on the SAAB. Press and hold the CLEAR button until the message goes away to be replaced by 'Cleared' then keep it pressed in until it says 'Service'.

Town Time and a Shock

SAAB out early to the dentist. Oh what fun.

At least it was sunny if a bit cold. Busy road this time too.

PM the restoration shop phoned. 'Can I come and see the car' like the headmaster summoning me. You know it's not good news when the tell you - 'both front wings are shot' and 'we've found an inch of filler'. Well the filler is probably mine !

So we'll take the Golf tomorrow and see what horrors we find. It's only money.

Bounce back

Dull wet day again - no car action - no sunshine.

Garage or new car - that is the dilemma.

Escape plan for a really small car

SAAB early to Stutton for jobs. Then full of Xmas tree off to dump it.

Then I warmed the Caterham for a run. Started well and drove better. Even the roads were getting dryer. Off to the shops and parked next to a 'small' car. That's not a small car - it's a Vauxhall Adam.

And finally Golf out again before lunch to the other end of the job list.

Another Camera Hog

MK2 Golf out first thing to the Bridge Classic start of the year visit/run. Shitty roads full of water and mud but the car looked OK in this FB post someone made.

Car needs another wash now though. I also spotted a friend's nice Austin Healy 3000 - now that will need a good clean too.

PM just a short SAAB trip to Stutton in more rain. It's not cold but it is defiantly wet.

Headlining

The MK2 out first thing in the rain for a quick trip to Ipswich. The headlining needed sticking 'up' again as it is falling down even more now.

Still looks OK from here though.

Then spotted my photo being used on an Instagram advert - which was nice.

Full up again

SAAB out first thing loaded with tools for garden work.

Then PM filled with stuff from Harkstead.

I had planned a trip in the Seven but it was getting dark before I was ready. I guess it's only early January - it's the warm(ish) 10 degrees that keeps fooling me.

Off she goes

Alpine delivered to Lee Scott Restorations this morning. Still looked good on the drive - the paint was even shining !

I got lost (again) going there - and when I arrived I could not find the place, even though I was standing outside it.

So here we are - I guess this will be last time I see it for several months. Then it will be stripped and all the problems revealed.

So there I was in early January in an open top car snug and warm. Must be that Global Warming. 

ION: The BBC said "Last year was the UK's warmest year on record, the Met Office has confirmed ... The mean temperature across the 12 months was 10.03C - topping the previous all-time high of 9.88C in 2014. so 15 of the UK's top 20 warmest years on record have all occurred this century - with the entire top 10 within the past two decades."

It is due to be hotter in 2023 too.

I've never seen that before

Stripped a lot of the easy bits off the Alpine. Started with just clearing the boot.

Then started on the rest of the car. Carpets, door linings, bumpers, soft top etc. Looked odd once I'd finished.

Then SAAB to Harkstead and finally SAAB to the RGEA meet up. 

The car park seemed to be full of white cars ?

Another Martin brought an unusual estate and Tom brought his Tiger. Not sure what the moderns were there for.

We have a plan

Taking the Alpine down for work on Thursday - so tomorrow I should clear everything out I can - I'll probably take the bumpers off too.

What Cobwebs ?

A proper start to the year with the Alpine out after warming for a run to get petrol. Blew the cobwebs away.

Went fine - actually seemed back to its good self. I'll have to watch the plugs.

Then MK7 ride for a walk. Finally as the weak winter sun was still out the Aston got a 'spirited' run and pic - at last. 

Off we go

2023 - Here we go.

So we started the year with a trip to the bottle bank(s) in the MK7. Then to Brentwood to drop James off with the dehumidifier for his Aunt.

Exciting stuff I'd have to admit.