Took a drive to ‘PaintShield’ in Grantham today to have the film removed. I guess it’s been a worthwhile investment considering it’s been on there since 2005. I think I might have left it on there, but I wasn’t sure what Jaguar Finance would say when they took the car back now the finance is …
Read More
Category:Car
New car?
Well, it’s been a difficult few months trying to decide what car to have next. Initially, I thought I might get a Volvo. They were especially attractive given the discount offered to Suppliers like me. However, after testing their top-end diesel – the D5 – I was left disappointed, mainly due to the noisiness of …
Read More
Christmas Meal with John M
John and I went to The Millhouse in Braunston for lunch and to look back on the year. I also test-drove some diesel Volvos in preparation for changing the car next year. Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! My lifelong …
Read More
High Chaparral Party/Latest tech Kit/Young Deer
HIGH CHAPARRAL PARTYToday’s the day of our party! Pity our costumes didn’t turn up in the post though. Tom to the rescue with a spare hat for me!!! Everyone else dressed for the part. Paul was a very convincing Mexican and Tom on his inflatable horse made a welcome return!!! See a larger of the …
Read More
£1527.78!!!!
Ouch! I took the Jaguar in for its annual service today. Last year it cost around 500 quid. Total bill this time round – 1527.78 quid. Yow!!! OK it did need four new tyres…and it did need the discs replacing on the front…but it all feels very expensive. Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late …
Read More
The Mondeo returns…
Paul brought the car back today after carrying out extensive repairs to the front bumper area. Ann had run into the back of another car at very low speed a month-or-so back. Whilst it was away, I got Paul to deal with the other scratches and give the car a full valet and a professional …
Read More
Laptop reinstall complete/Cooking/Lenny Henry
Added the last few programs to the Laptop. Job done!!!! If anything, it’s slightly faster than before the crash! I’ve also tweaked the backup strategy to include more stuff from the Laptop. I gave both cars a really good wash and clean out today, whilst Ann spent most of the day cooking. Ann managed to …
Read More
Car through MOT/LapTop reinstall continues…
Well that’s good news! Ann’s car got through the MOT – not bad for a 105,000-mile Mondeo!!! I continued to reinstall everything back onto the Laptop. I reckon I’ll finish it by today, although I did have to cancel my visit to Jackie’s to give me more time to focus on the PC. Other than …
Read More
Day at ‘Millbrook’/Ann not well/Mae recovering
I had a really enjoyable day at Millbrook today. This was courtesy of one of my clients. As their web-site says… “Millbrook is one of Europe’s leading locations for the development and demonstration of every type of land vehicle, from motorcycles and passenger cars to heavy commercial, military and off-road vehicles”. I managed to Drove …
Read More
London Blog
Spent the day in London today. Left home around 8am for my first meeting but Stuart McL cancelled. Arrived at the Novotel, Waterloo around 11am, so I guess that wasn’t a bad journey. Stuart cancelling left me time to do a bit of work and try out the new laptop wirelessly (again!). This time there …
Read More
Reunion Blog
Attended the annual reunion of my School today. There was a pretty good turn out – around 100 and everyone had a good time even though we all know that the scholl is going to be closed next year 🙁 But what a c*** journey there. I left at 9.45 in the morning and arrived …
Read More
Business trip to Scotland
I spent the day at my clients in Daventry. I then travelled up to Scotland with John M for some work for the same client (planned for the following day) at a training centre in Edinburgh. Luckily, JM did all the driving. It was a long one and the weather was atrocious! We hit some …
Read More
Speedy Blog – neuf points!!
Bugger! Bugger! Bugger! Looks like I got caught today by a speed cameral driving through Wellngborough. That’ll be nine points on my Licence then in total. It’s a pesky nuisance because since the last time I got caught, and having attended Northamptonshire’s ‘Speed Workshop’, I’ve been a changed driver! A monetary lapse in concentration and …
Read More
100,000 mile Mondeo!
Well, today saw the Mondeo clock up 100,000 miles! It hit exactly 100,000 somewhere between the station and home after dropping Ann off for work. It’s been a really reliable car (apart from the alternator problems a while back), and still goes like a rocket!!! Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late in life, not …
Read More
Jaguar clock fixed!
Finally, Jaguar have managed to solve the problem with the car-clock losing time. They’ve replaced the unit that was malfunctioning. Quite why it took them so long to decide that was the best thing to do, I’ll never know, but at least it’s fixed! That’ll now save me 1 minute a day not having to …
Read More
Jaguar Blog/Furniture delivered
Picked up the Jaguar today – looks like they’ve managed to fix the air-con. Touch wood they’ll be no more problems, although the clock is still losing time even though it’s supposed to be connected to the GPS circuit. Strangely, the s-type diesel I had out on loan performance-wise was so much better – almost …
Read More
Fish and Chips Supper/Knackered Jaguar
David and Val came round for a fish and chips supper. A busy day all round for all of us. I ran late, Ann ran late and David’s brand new car broke down! Phew! I’ve got trouble with the Jag again. This time, the heating system has decided to go into meltdown – well, it …
Read More
Roasted Jaguar
On the way to the clients this morning, I noticed the temperature inside the car was a little warm. It was a cold day, so I didn’t think much about it. However, on the way back, the interior turned into an oven. None of the temperature settings seem to work, and putting it on ‘Lo’ …
Read More
Traffic Chaos
The strong winds created havoc on the roads today. I left Solihull at 4.15 and at 7pm, I was still queuing on M6 waiting to join the A14. I finally got home at 8.30 Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! …
Read More
Jaguar Blog
Took the car back to the Dealership in Coventry today to see if they could fix the electrics problem. It turned out that it was the same problem as last time – a broken cable in the front (electrical) harness. They also fixed the glove-box (that wouldn’t stay closed) and a sticky heated-rear window switch. …
Read More
Jaguar Blog
Oh dear! The ignition light came on on the dashboard today – and stayed like it! I called out Jaguar Assist who diagnosed it as an ‘alternator fault of some kind’. Luckily, I’m taking the car in for some other warranty work on Wednesday, although I reckon it’ll take most of the day to fix …
Read More
Mum for Christmas
Picked Mum up for Christmas today – She had a fall yesterday near her flat yesterday, leaving her with a cut on her nose and a slight black-(left)eye. Left home at 4am and had a good journey down (just over two hours) but the travelling conditions were very bad. Rain and fog. Yukk! We had …
Read More
Speed Workshop
Good news from the Speed Workshop I attended a few weeks back. I received a letter this morning advising me that they’ve withdrawn the pending three points. Phew!!!! An interesting FAQ HERE about Speed Cameras in Northamptonshire. Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well …
Read More
Speed Workshop
Today, I attended my ‘Speed Workshop’. A strange title really, as I obviously don’t need a Workshop in speeding!! The event was held in Northampton and was offered in lieu of acquiring three points on my Drivers Licence. See these blogs HERE and HERE for the gory details, how I got caught and the surprise …
Read More
Jaguar Service
The Jag went in for its annual service today. I couldn’t have the extra laser detector fitted to the front of the car because there was no way they could make it easy to remove for when we travel to France. Bah!!!! Currently, they’re still legal in the UK, but not in the EU. …
Read More
Worst Motoring Blog ever…?
Wow, what a great start to the weekend! – NOT! Firstly a(nother) speeding summons through in the post. This time it was in Daventry last Wednesday – 35 in a 30 limit! From what I recall, it was a mobile speed camera van. Uniquely, there seems to be an option whereby you the offender MAY …
Read More
Lunch Blog
Met up with Dave B in Market Harborough for lunch (well, an ‘all day’ breakfast actually!). I haven’t seen him since the TfL project ended last year. He was this way on business for a few days. Loved his new car! (a Saab convertible). Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing …
Read More
Lawn Mower
The new petrol lawn mower arrived! Hurrah!!! I quickly assembled it and filled it up with oil – that’s good! 👍 Err, …in the PETROL tank – that’s bad! 😟😟😟 Luckily, I found a local company to fix it. I’ll take it down there tomorrow as it’s too big to fit the boot in the …
Read More
Sorted! Blog
Wow! Got the car back yesterday! excellent news! They had carried out a really good job on the dent/scrape. Almost 1600 pound’s worth of damage was caused by the accident a week-or-so ago. Glad I wasn’t paying and thank heavens for ‘protected no-claims bonus’ too!!! Finally got everything working again on my XDA. Had to …
Read More
A Stressful Friday!
The Jaguar should have been repaired by today…but it hasn’t been as they’re still waiting for parts. Hopefully it’ll be ready by Monday. Finally installed the last piece of software on the new PC – Phew! Still can’t get Calendar to sync with Outlook though! Bugger! We seem to be suffering from random power cuts. …
Read More