Wet End

Dull end to the month with more rain and just a quick SAAB jaunt.

Looking back the miles favoured the E-type although everything squeezed a short run except the Imp which only did 2 miles as a warm up.

Must do better in April but the rain never stopped this month.

On the way back

First SAAB loaded with tools etc. came back this morning after an early Harkstead visit.

PM rain on and off so no car action.

Lighter Load

Went to see the Alpine first thing - SAAB not exactly fully loaded today.

Not great progress on the car but the cross-member was repaired although the sill was off on the drivers door as it had not fitted well.

Good news though was that the windscreen rail fitted fine with the bent peg.

The Harkstead and Stutton runs just to add to the tally of SAAB miles.

Day of Rest ... ish

Started with a brunch run for Oli's birthday - 7 degrees and raining when I got there.

Then a quick SAAB jaunt to do some tidying up in the Harkstead garage. That turned into a full load and then I decided it was sensible to do a dump run. Probably one more to go.

Which was closed for compacting as usual when I got there.

Finally a Stutton run for birthday boy's tea and cake.

More and More Kitchen Running

SAAB backwards and later forwards again.

Although we did treat ourselves to a B&Q run in the rain too.

Oh and found the stone to stop the noise.

More Kitchen Running

Yes - SAAB backwards and forwards.

Kitchen Running

By SAAB of course.

The most exciting thing was getting a stone lodged in the wheel again making a scraping noise. We must fix that.

What Boat ?

Second day of SAAB running. Up early to Harkstead for project Kitchen day 2. Then to-ing and fro-ing

Thought it would be traditional to visit the dump too after lunch.

First of three loads I'd guess.

Then on the way back the Police had blocked the road as they were escorting this monster through Ipswich.

So we went a different way home - and back to work. Final rainy run home late evening.

First run up

Team SAAB to Harkstead for day 1 of the Kitchen project. 8:00 am.

A couple of work runs during the day too - including B&Q for old times sake.

Final Prep Run

Morning run out in the MK7 - but what's this ?

Yes - two child seats in the back - although in the end only one small boy came along.

Then pm SAAB loaded up again with tools etc. back to Harkstead to unload ahead of the real work tomorrow.

Yes there are a lot of tools in the garage there now ...

Finally a late SAAB airport run in the dark to Stanstead Airport.

Here waiting to pick up for foreign contractors for the job - like these chaps probably.

Merging into One

Forgetting the runs now as they are getting many and varied.

So SAAB first think to collect the missing kitchen parts, shop for others and then drop them all off at Harkstead.

Then PM a SAAB run up there again with more tools and to pack boxes and fit electrics - but they did not fit - odd.

So checking the stock at home I found another socket that did fit and hey presto - MK2 on the drive for the return trip.

Then the planned evening run in the SAAB was swapped for the MK7 as it needs child seats for tomorrow now...

More SAAB Buzzing around

Early morning run into town to get bits for the kitchen build. Then early afternoon run to drop off more boxes and the first load of the tools etc.

Then back again to pick up some incorrect door handles. Finally late evening run to Stutton with chop saw.

Many more of these all to come before the classics get a look in I suspect.

Testing TImes

Decided to test the Imp wiper motor - power and earth both fine. Which of course perversely was a shame.

SAAB to Stutton to help with the work for an hour. Then the Aston out to the bottle bank to ring the changes.

Then SAAB to Harkstead for Mother's Day tea.

Finally MR E got a run out, as it's not been out much and the rain is coming back next week. The 'whistle' seems to lessen after it's warmed up too. 

Oh and the horn is still permanently on - I tested that too.

More Rain

More rain all morning so the road are sodden.

Quick SAAB jaunt to get paint then to Stutton to look at Oli's garage work. It's coming along.

Hammering it down

The rain that was. SAAB on short Harkstead run late in the afternoon - in case I had forgotten the way.

Out and about and about and out again

MK2 to the garage for MOT  test first thing so ride back in MK7.

Then after lunch a stuffed SAAB to the boat to unload the sailing stuff again.

Then pick up MK2 on the way back with another year's ticket and drive onto Stutton.

Still looking clean I'm happy to say. Then finally MK2 to Harkstead for jobs and then home.

Clean pair of Wheels

Well two wheels out initially for the first cycle of the year. Very muddy in fact with flooded roads after the rain last night.

So the bike got a clean before the car did. But both came up looking fine.

Then PM MK2 into town for utility run. Parked on the street not looking too bad at all.

Then SAAB run to Stutton for a quick job.

Palindrome and Poo

Sunshine and showers but after a morning of admin I managed a lap in the Seven. Had not been out for a while but started first time on no fan heater.

Noticed two things - firstly a huge bird poo hit the car and second the speedo ticking over to 470074.

Only one deserves a photo though.

Funnily enough as we went to Harkstead in the MK7 the same happened - a large bird poo hit the windscreen. I guess we're doubly lucky then.

I also noticed a picture in the VSCC newsletter about the Suffolk Tour that I thought I could have taken. Indeed when I checked I did take it ! I also took the one on the entry form and the website but they did not give me a name check - it just said Hacheston - which is where it started from.

ION: A Russian jet had collided with an American MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Black Sea. The drone has been lost and the Americans seem to be calm ... time will tell. BBC quotes Russia saying it scrambled its aircraft to identify the intruder, but due to quick manoeuvring, the MQ-9 drone went into an "unguided flight with a loss of altitude and collided with the water surface". Water Surface ?

Final Fellow of the Fleet is Free

Imp time I thought today as the sun was out - even though it was blowing a gale. So I went out to put the  fan heater on for a couple of hours to warm it up, only to find the gale had blow off the Caterham cover over night.

So strapping it on became the first job. Then the heater swung into action.

Later I started the process. Checked the water. OK with some on the floor and a slight 'crust' around the pipe which I wiped off.

Then a pipet or two of oil on all the rockers, as well as cleaning the plugs.

Plugs 3 and 4 (from the front of the car) were quite dirty but 1 and 2 seemed a good brown colour.

Then added about a pint of oil as the dip stick showed it on 50%. This time I remembered to use the correct 140 oil as I'd added 20w50 to the rockers.

Finally started it up (second time as I forgot to use the hand throttle) and left to warm for a bit. Oil pressure showing a healthy 40+psi.

I then took the car for a quick run to the RHS - bumpy I thought - but immediately remembered I'd not corrected the tyre pressures. 

That done we dismantled the bubble as the wind blew the clouds past in waves - all in all 40 mins - and the car was safely back in the garage.

After lunch I decided to take out the ... MK2 Golf for petrol ahead of the MOT Thursday.

I bumped in to my new young neighbor (he's doing the house up opposite) at the petrol station. Then home again and decided that the weather would hold so out came the ... Ferrari.

Around the block and home before the dark clouds came back. Only to be spotted by said chap who came to have a look as I parked up. He's a petrol head (has Mini and VW Van) as is his dad (Mustang etc.) so that's good to know.

Ferrari Sprung

Sunny morning, so we warmed the Ferrari up for a bit - well for about three hours as it turned out. However it started first time after the fuel had come through. So I backed it out to set the tyre pressures.

It was also very clean in there with almost no oil or water on the floor. Good sign.

So after a quick mile shakedown I packed it away again.

Later I thought I'd pack the bubble away - that only took just over 30 mins. So we had time to take the car around the block. It went very well seemingly excited by being out again. Got a nice look from a little boy too as he passed it on the drive and then saw it drive past him on the street.

Strange how happy a car that starts easily and runs nicely in the sunshine can make me. Simple pleasures - but then it is a classic Ferrari so what's not to like.

Finally a utility SAAB run for Harkstead work - just to ground me. Noticed that it had passed the 140,000 miles mark recently. I must have missed it.

Anyway, just the Riley to go now and the fleet will be back in action.

Racking it up

SAAB first thing to drop off the compost Jana had filled it with yesterday.

Then roof bars loaned to the Passat and another DIY shop trip.

Then a dump run.

Finally a trip to Harkstead with boxes to fill and to the allotment to drop off a pallet. No wonder there was no time to warm the Ferrari up and get it out.

Perhaps tomorrow.

This Snow !

Morning got colder until it started.

The SAAB got a dusting, but by the time I went out it had stopped and all melted away.

So I took the MK2 to Harkstead for project Kitchen.

Packing the boxes up - I've used those several times as the lables will testify.

What Snow ?

As the rest of the country is blanketed in thick snow and told to stay home - we're out and about in the rain - SAAB plodding along. Harkstead etc.

Staying Put

Sleet and rain made for a 'at home' day. More to come too I think.

One task I did was to kick off the fleet insurance - I was asked what the total value was - that was a shock.

Chasing the Snow Showers

SAAB out in the morning for more wood as the sleet came down.

Mostly stopped by the time I made it back to Stutton though.

The forecast was for snow but the sun came out later - so we got the Aston out too.

Shot shows the clouds building.

SAAB in the Sleet

Cold early run to get some wood from Manningtree in the rain.

Then dropping it off in Stutton. After that I picked up a little chair.

As you do. SAAB earning its keep again.

More Tire'ing Times

SAAB jaunt early pm for a quick plumbing job in Stutton. Then looked at the other wheel I want to clear out.

I'm told it's from a Ford Transit van. 

Anyway - then another SAAB jaunt - this time to Harklstead for tea. Oh the life I lead.

High Security SAAB

Dull cold and drizzly day. Went out with the recycling and spotted this.

I'd obvious left the door open yesterday after putting the seats back in. Odd. Only a bit of pollen in there thankfully.

Proceeding Again - and Pollen Bath

Moved the SAAB first thing to load it up and it was covered in pollen.

So I started to look at the Caterham next. Ignition seemed OK and I was tracing the wire to the started solenoid when I spotted this.

I'm sure that wire should be connected ? Odd it came off as it was quite stiff to get back on. Anyway that did the trick and she fired up on the first turn of the key.

Then loaded the SAAB with a huge load for the dump and dragging them up the steps when there.

After lunch it was time to visit Harkstead for jobs and took the MK2.

Finally as the sun was back out I risked the Caterham around the block - so good I almost did it twice but it was getting a bit cold by then. So we tucked it up and called it quits.

Failing to Proceed

First thing an Alpine owner turned up to take my rusty wheels. Glad that have gone to a good home - he has a S4 (in progress) and a S3 (in rusty bits). 

Then PM I decided to brave the cold in the Seven. Surprise !

I was all dressed up but the Caterham refused to start - enough power I think - it would just not engage the starter motor. So I was forced to take out the ... E-type.

A lot warmer but not what I had planned.

Peeping out

Dreary cold day. So spiced up the afternoon with a run in the E-type.

Cold afternoon but it ran well and looked great - the red seemed deeper in the cold light. There was no sign of water on the garage floor either. 

Then pm RGEA meeting in the gloom. Took the SAAB as it was cold and frosty.

A little delayed on the way back due to the Holbrook road bring blocked by blue lights at the Freston Tower. I'll look out for the latest evidence of a mishap in the verge next time I pass.