Oh BAD SAAB !

Packed the SAAB up - not quite in the rain - just a bit of mist.

Popped out and found myself helping an old lady with a dead battery. Jump pack seemed to do the trick but she wanted to wait for the AA anyway.

Anyway - off we went - with a stutter ? Or two. Then on the A12 another stutter and the turbo gauge hunting again. Then the check engine light flashed. Bugger.

So home we went and swapped the luggage into the Golf.

So after out first departure an hour later we're heading off again. Dull run but we found the new bridge and junction for RHS Wisley was open which made it much easier to call in for a break.

Had to buy a UK sticker at the port too - first time we've taken the Golf abroad.

But as we hit 50 mpg it's already paid for the sticker !

What to do with the SAAB now though ?

"But it's Sustainable Now" !

So SAAB first thing - towing and shit shoveling again at the allotment.

Noticed one of the lights was a bit off - probably a bad earth.

After lunch I checked the MK2 and the tyres looked fine. We'll see.

PM SAAB out again and a Harkstead run. Spotted the Imp again. Looking lonely.

I'll being it home soon.

ION: I woke up the the Chancellor saying that we're ok to have a new runway at Heathrow (and elsewhere) because we'll all be using Sustainable Aviation Fuels in the future. Oh that's OK then. But it made me think - when will they do a volte face for car fuels ?

Six Wheels on my Wagon

Went to the garage first thing only to find the MK2 with a very flat tyre. Odd.

I gave it more air we'll see what happens. I topped them up nine days ago but have not driven the car for a couple of weeks so may by the valve was left 'open' a little ?

Then as they were ready the SAAB out to collect the two new trailer wheels.

Then I fitted them - who needs a jack ?

I also warmed the Alpine up for a bit...

... and then as the roads were dry and the sun was out we went for a very short run.

Up Country and 'Dear Sir'

MK7 up to Thorpeness and back. In the rain.

We did call in at Aldeburgh on the way back though - wow. Wow indeed.

I also came home to the latest Octane Magazine. I looked and there was my 'letter'. Oddly I did not feel that delighted - I could/should have done better. It was edited a bit to make it more 'letter friendly' which was a shame too. However - that serves me right for trying to get a picture published !

It's all about 'H'

Two SAAB runs as the next storm pottered past.

Heath first for shoes - very busy and I was lucky to get a space. 

Then Holbrook, Harkstead, Shotley and back - gain - but at least the light is returning to the evenings.

Oh and back again as I forgot a job in the dark coming home.

East Germany ?

Drive off to see F&L&R first thing and after working out why the sat-nav kept changing out route we made it over Tower Bridge and into South London.

We found a space near their house too.

Which was lucky as when we left them it was pissing it down. As it did all the way home via the living Hell that is Ikea on a Sunday afternoon.

Several classic Mercedes 240 saloons - they dodge the ULEZ nicely. Oh and this:

I thought it might have been a Moskvitch - but it turns out it is 1990s Japanese Nissan Pao - no me neither.

Slow wet and windy run back home in the dark which was a bit shit too.

Saturday Shanks'

So a tube ride and a walk around central London in the sunshine. Spotted this monster Rolls on the Strand.

It was a 2022 ROLLS ROYCE PHANTOM. Looked huge. As did this Maybach (Mercedes-Benz) we spotted a little later.

Nothing much of note down there.

London - Via the Outskirts

MK7 packed and ready for the off so we set off towards London - but via a gardening outlet on the outskirts of Chelmsford. Ah - not that type of shop - more a warehouse.

So we diverted again to another shop in Chigwell of all places - discovering some farmland inside the M25 as we went.

Golf now caked in muck. No luck here either so we set off back on out travels to Crouch End almost passing the place where we bought the E-type all those years ago.

Also passed an old friend on Miranda's street.

Yep - that MGC is still hanging in there.

The Wrong Car ?

Well another dreary damp and cold day with shitty and slippery roads. So I took the Aston out to save the world.

So the car got dirty - not as bad as the SAAB but never the less it needs a clean again now.

Finally SAAB to Stutton to pick up the MK7. Works done cam belt changed and the leak was from the water pump to that was renewed too.

Dirty again

SAAB off to Ely for most of the day. The roads were filthy and there was a heavy mist all the way there. The car is obviously filthy again now.

Although it does not look too bad here. Oh and the parking is free most of the day.

The only issue is that the 'Check Engine' light occasionally flashed on/off very quickly - although I suspect it stayed on once for a second longer. Umm ... we'll have to monitor that.

Finally a late PM run to Stutton for birthday pizza and passenger back in the dark and gloom.

More Pottering

Just a SAAB run PM to Harkstead and the allotment.

Let's see how long it remains clean.

MK7 dropped off the its work so 'Taxi for one' later in the afternoon via Stutton.

A Clean Pair of Heels and a Clean Pair of Cars

Cold again and murky but I decided to get out and wash the cars. 

Before I could start there was a ripping sound as gravel sprayed everywhere.

That will be someone late for an appointment.

First the MK2 which was caked in mud. A good clean and dry. Then the windows. My fingers were getting cold by the so I took the easy way out and the SAAB down to the car wash. But at least they were both clean - although there is still mud under the SAAB wheel arches.

Finally I did the tyre pressures - with my gloves on it was so cold - and found the MK2 a little low but the SAAB mostly fine. Mind you the allow wheels are a real mess.

ION: It's D-Day as 'The Donald' starts his second term as US president.

So far he has announced he will sign executive orders: closing the Southern boarder, drilling for oil, cancelling electric car quotas, putting up tariffs, stopping any censorship, reverting to only two genders, spend on the military, expanding America's territory, a mission to Mars, issuing pardons for those convicted of storming Biden's inauguration and a return to the 'American Dream'. A busy four years then.

Cartoon Time Again

Admin and playing with the Tin Tin cartoon cars pushed the dreary day into the background.

Then pm passenger ride to Harkstead in the gloom.

Lots of salt on the roads too now - so that's it for the real cars for a bit.

A Sweep, a Wheel and a Runner

So the Sweep is the Alpine windscreen wiper sweep. I took off the wiper arms (after finding out you just pull them hard - I used a spanner to ease them off) moved the mechanism over to the left and put them back on. 

As it is not self parking it was easy - although they still don't sweep much.

I then looked at the new trailer wheel - oh it is a bit bigger. The offsets still work so it will go on but it taller.

Only checking the invoice did I notice they had given us a wheel for a Daxara 147 and not a 148 trailer. The website says they are the same wheel though - no me neither. A job for Monday though.

Finally the job I had been putting off. The MK2 Golf seat runner. In the end I check the passenger seat which was still in place and it made sense. I had to cut the fitting down to make it work but after 45 mins we were done. Only four months since the broken one fell out.

It does look like a bit of old chewing gum - but it works. I finished off by re-doing the battery connection too. 

So three more jobs done.

Harkstead Shuffle and More

Harkstead in the MK2 this time. No where to park though.

Then I topped up the MK7 Golf water again. It's leaking out at quite a rate. Not sure where it is going though.

Finally SAAB to collect more gas and the spare wheel for the trailer - a job for tomorrow. 

The Little Things and a Software Downgrade

Back out into the cold and murk first thing to finish off the Talbot jobs. Well some of them. So fan heater on for a couple of hours while I did other jobs.

She started first 'press of the button' after getting the oil pressure up. Impressive. I started too - this time fitting the headlight glass back on. I added a bit more tape around it to ensure the 'snug' fit.

So back to looking symmetrical. That's better and only two month since it was smashed. I wonder if anyone will ever comment.

Next I went to change the washers that were rusty on the sidelights. Ah - that's interesting - the washers have a side cut off to fit past the fitting. Interesting.

So I cut the corner off four new ones and started to fit them. One side was fine but the other I needed to take the stud out as well, which meant unscrewing both of them to get one out. So after a quick clean they were all replaced. Little things.

Next I checked the oil and added a pint. It's not really used a much this year - a couple of pints. Finally the tyres - they all needed a bit of air. I'll need to keep an eye on them too.

Then Alpine out in the gloom and off to Harkstead for a package drop off. 

She was a bit rough on start up - it's been a while in fact last time was 31st December, so two weeks sitting in the cold and damp. Perhaps I should move it into the bubble?

Finally the SAAB was ready. It turned out the lambda sensor was rusted in solid. So they just disconnected it and downgraded the software in the ECU to a version that did not have one. 

Nice Carlson in there for work too.

The car felt much better than the diesel I dropped off too. So we're getting them all back.

ION: No one seems to have told Israel to stop fighting so the bombing continues down to the wire.

Under and Over

Reading the book on 1930's cars - in the French section is talks about "Conduite intérieure avec malle". I thought it was something bad, but it turns out it means using a car with a roof and a boot for the luggage. Or as Google tell me "sedan driving with trunk".

Anyway a dull misty day but not as cold as before so ideal to get under the Talbot and give it a clean. Fan had been on for 4 hours and she started almost immediately after priming the carb and spinning over once to get the oil pressure up.

It did not look too dirty until I got underneath.

An hour later and two very dirty buckets of water it was all clean again, although I could have kept going. Then I did the top side. I still need to clean the wheels and tyres as before and a few other bits but it's presentable again.

Then I did the second headlight glass, which hardly took any time at all, well it's the third one I've done.

Here it is setting in the shed for tomorrow.

Next was the MK2 out for a Harkstead job and finally topped it up with petrol.

That really needs a clean badly too now.

ION: Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire deal to end 15 months of war. One down - several to go.

Ghastly Gridlock

I was getting ready to drive to Glevering and our trip to Norfolk and a call came in. Oh no. Lorry over on the A12/14 junction and that was it. Everything gridlocked. MK2 managed fine although we did spin the wheels on a wet and muddy hill.

Everywhere we went there was chaos - here is the 'small' road at Bentley.

That's a lorry squeezing past me. I past - and chatted - to a chap in a great 1950's RR being driven through the madness which was a nice interlude.

It took me and hour and 15 mins to get to Claydon. So from there I was picked up and off we went. A select gathering but a good start.

I had to photoshop the Land Rover in but what the hell.

Long run back in Chris' Ford Kuga to pick up the MK2 again - only to fight the rush hour traffic home.

A Long time and a Short time

First the long. AM SAAB off to Harkstead for a run to Shotley Dr. I saw the 'check engine' light and wondered how long I'd been running around with it on.

Turns out it's been on for a couple of months - early November in fact.

Then after I got back, Jana reported the MK7 needing water again so I topped it up - again. The last time was about 10 days ago. Nothing obvious in the oil filler either.

Then back to Harkstead again with drugs and finally I swapped the SAAB at Abbotts for a diesel run around - it was so modern it had 6 gears.

So another red car on the drive.

The old Swaperoo

Another cold and frozen day but sunny as well.

So two cars to Harkstead - but only one left there.

For our drive back after a walk.

Taxi for Tunbridge

Cold, misty and icy day. So only the SAAB out first thing to give a ride.

Probably only three miles in total.

Back to doing our bit

Potter in the cold AM then PM decided to get the planet saved.

So Aston out and looking good on the drive.

Slippery 2 degrees on the shitty roads so we took it easy all the way to the bottle-bank. That will save the planet I thought.

However - the key did pop out nicely - so a bit of warmth did it good.

Steamy Video !

Bright but very cold day for Part 2 of the Talbot video.

The car was harder to start - I suspect less fuel and possibly much colder this time - but went fine once it caught. Oliver arrived and set to work.

After a few stills and panning shots we were ready to go. So we did. Then the steam started - a little at first then a lot - and water splashing on the windscreen !

Some fool had not clipped the radiator cap back on properly and water was splashing out. So I popped it back and off we went with a slightly wet engine and a slightly foolish feeling.

Lings Lane first for the shots but I met vans, lorries and people - bloody rush hour in fact. Drone and panning shots here.

Then off to Harkstead Church for more of the same. The car does look nice from above although this picture does not do it justice.

Then Home via Harkstead (not counted) and a final pic. but what is that ? The same bloody lorry coming back on an even more narrow road. We maneuvered and it was fine. He even tootled a thanks. Then a quick panning shot.

Odd to see me in the car.

So back home safely - even if I have a rather mucky car that needs a good clean when the temperature makes it above zero degrees.

Lastly a quick MK7 jaunt to Harkstead in the ice and dark for a job - now that one does count.

ION: Major fires still rage in LA. The phrase that frightens me is 'Zero Containment'.