kirton

As some of you may have seen in my thread, I spent the last couple of days nipping down to Worcester and as a result REV is now parked on my trailer outside my house in the North East of Scotland. How the hell did that happen? Pull up a chair to the fire, help yourself to a dram, and I will tell you  
Over the years on AS I got to know Dez on here, then on the winter zoom meets during Covid and I have met him once at the FOD. During this time (Dez, you might want to look away here, I will tell you when it is safe to return) I found Dez to be young and enthusiastic, especially about Invercars which it became obvious is his passion, to the extent he can become a pain in the arse about them, but that is Dez (you can look back now). When Dez got the chance to buy REV, I was one of the ones who advised against it due to his physical limitations. He ignored me  and I was wrong. Whilst owning REV has done nothing much for him physically, mentally it is the best thing he could have done. It has given him something to focus on, and I would go as far as to say Dez is now probably the leading authority on these things, and a by product he has become profficient in dealing with DVLA, and he has helped me out several times over the years.
Once Dez had got REV running and completed his chip run, it became obvious REV was far from in good health and fortunately he listened to advice and the true hero of all this @red5 stepped in and offered to sort it. I met Sam today, a true gentleman, and he told me what he had done to REV and believe me it is far more than I could have done! Sam did all this inbetween teaching and having a life and whilst having to wait 5 months for carb bits etc. All that is left is the kingpin on the technical front and a few other jobs which whilst relatively simple will take a great deal of time, which understandably Sam no longer has as life has moved on.
Around Christmas time, Dez became a bit frustrated, after all he passed his driving test 2 years ago and has not driven since. In his usual enthusiastic all in manner he asked about a car he was thinking of buying. A lot of good advice was given, and frankly, a whole heap of nasty comments were made at Dez. I was surprised by some people, and several of the worst offenders have posted on AS how they sometimes struggle with their own mental health yet fealt it was perfectly acceptable to pile in on Dez. I will not name names, nor say anymore on the subject, but  some of the people involved should be ashamed of themselves. Enough of that, at least some good came out of it.
A few days later during a zoom call, Dez MAY have mentioned Invercars once or twice and in discussion agreed with the good advice given that he did not need another car, he just wanted REV back. The piss taking I think annoyed me more than Dez, I am old and realise we need to encourage youngsters into the classic car game if it is going to continue. I told Dez that when I retired at the beginning of March, if it was OK with him and Sam, I would bring it up here and finish it off, probably not to such a high standard but with the quiet roads up here, a few miles could be covered before he got it back in a hope of improving reliability.
Whilst this was being organised, my ace mechanic Duncan, one of only 2 people I trust to work on my Cobra, approached with a problem he was having with a car he has owned since 1982 not showing on DVLA despite him having a V5. I contacted Dez, he said it was because it has been archived and it should be possible to wake it up. Dunc asked if Dez would do it for him, which he readily agreed to. There then followed a long argument between Dunc and Dez over how much it would cost, with Dez refusing payment and Dunc insisting! To cut a long story short (much too late, I know) Dunc is going to sort the Invercar, Dez is going to sort his registration and I have managed to help 2 friends. I think that is worth doing!
Anyway, some more pictures from today:

Right then, this is the ex @SmokinWaffle and @StinkwheelBX that was free in the summer but I paid £250 for last month. Im not too much of a story teller but want to show what's been done and any updates etc for those interested. I've not owned a Citroen for 15 years and that was a *normal one so jumped at the chance to save this beauty. She was rough, slammed to the ground and left everywhere covered in LHM piss. When @SmokinWaffle messaged to say he was struggling to get it off his drive I honestly thought what the f*@k have I let myself in for 😆 
@worldofceri delivered her on time and was very helpful throughout, almost like hes done it before. 

And a huge relief when it fit into the garage fine 

I'd been briefed the leaks were likely plastic return pipes which they were but also weren't. First tackled the "small octopus" which handles all the return lines and literally disintegrated on contact. 
Managed to bodge improvise a repair until a more permanent solution be found. Not pretty but it's done the job. The next leak was found to be the NSR brake pipe which was sourced for about £40 from ebay and got this fitted. Surprisingly straight forward to do! 

All fitted along with a few return pipes I thought I was home and dry, filled her with LHM and up went the front end shortly followed by the back. Brilliant until......another pipe burst. This was a long front to back line and covered a load of the cars underside aswell as the garage floor. 
Was a bit disheartened as the price of this pipe seemed to be anything from £65 up to £138 which had me questioning if it was worth doing. I managed to find a local Citroen specialist near me and asked if he could help. He made up a pipe for me while I waited with right flares and connectors for £15, absolute hero. 
I fitted it back home no problem and was certainly a lot easier than taking it off.
She's now able to rise and fall and without drenching everything in LHM....yessssss 
Next up was the nicer to do bits, x2 tyres which were included were fitted 
Door lock and card replaced easily enough and inside looking much nicer now although the ICE probably isn't up to much - a job for another day 


Did a mini service on here, probably at least 8/9 years since she's had new oil and filters so had to be done. Definately looked ready.

Sounds like she's running alright tho....
https://youtu.be/NEQMb4BUzv4?si=AGBXNIWV9FZuz6zd
Had an interesting time sorting out some bodgery in the rear light clusters mainly due to when the towbar was fitted. Dad thankfully helped fix a couple of connections I couldn't manage to trace the fault. Changed a few bulbs, cleaned up connections etc and a bulb board. Here is the donor car at the specialists (new best friend) I mentioned earlier...🤣


I was warned about a bad clutch cable/clutch but adjusted the bite point and seems to be holding up at the moment.
After sorting out a washer jet for her I booked an MOT and packed a few breakdown essentials. 


Only a short distance to the garage but noticed a blow from the exhaust unfortunately en route. We stopped for fuel and love the way she looks back out in the wild again
I've never seen the boys show so much interest in a car going for an MOT....😬


All was going well until we found a bearing/Bush loose but not the end of the world so....

After 8/9 years in a barn to only need a bush, exhaust patch and brakes adjusting I'll take it. Absolutely buzzing 🥲
Booked in with my Citroen guy on Wednesday so should have some news by end of week fingers crossed 🤞 

it is nice to see that people DO actually understand what the Invacar was all about! and just how much of a life line it was to so many people
its one of things that, to this day I still dont think ever had a proper replacement, and I do still think there would be a market for a such vehicle even in todays day and age
in the same way there still is a market for Microcars, with the Electric Citroen Ami etc
 
I think that a vehicle which is designed from the ground up specifically for disabled people, and adaptable to the widest range of disabilities, like the Model 70 was, would be something that some people would quite appreciate to have
something bigger/faster/safer then a Mobility scooter, but not some massive modern car thats PITA to get around town in etc 
 
you could say I am saying Bring back Invacars,  but I would like to clarify, not like how you see it on facebook with the idiots who go "oh how dare someone get a free Range Rover, we should bring back Invacars because how dare disabled people get something nice"
I think the Motability scheme is a great thing, and should never be "gotten rid of" but I also do think that there would still be a market for something like a modern version of the Model 70, in addition to the Motability scheme
especially because a lot dont realise it, but a Motability car does cost the user money,  it is not provided "free of charge" like the aforementioned facebook idiots think it is, it takes your Mobility component of PIP away from you to pay for the vehicle in question (and if you do decide you want something a bit fancy you have to pay the upfront difference), all it really is just a very fancy 3 year lease, and not everyone might be able to afford losing that part of their disability  benefit in exchange for a set of wheels
where as the Invacar, was provided completely free of charge, and you even got *paid* a petrol allowance, they really where just like any other bit of NHS of kit handed out for *free* to help disabled a person mobilise, like an artificial limb or wheelchair is handed out
and nothing says that more then in the fact that to get an Invacar, you would simply go to your GP about it, who would get the ball rolling for it, in the same way if you get your leg blown off and needed an artificial one, again your GP would help sort that out
and likewise, you would pickup your Invacar, like your artificial limb, from an ALAC, Artificial limb and Appliance centre 
 
and I bring this up, because, we simply dont have anything like that anymore! and I think thats a shame
I am not saying bring back the Model 70 as it was, but I am saying I think its a shame the whole "invalid vehicle scheme" itself got so badly rubbished and axed
 
in some regards we really have gone full circle there as as an adapted Citroen Ami was shown off fairly recently!
https://insideevs.com/news/671175/citroen-ami-for-all-disabled-conversion/
a small blue car with seating for 1 and a space to stow a wheel chair and made out of plastic, now why does that sound so familiar! 
 
and yet its funny how the Invacar does get so much shit chucked at it, but people seem to be relatively fine with the above, when really they aint that different!
as is said before "there's nowt so queer as folk"  but again its nice to see that people do recognise the Invacar for the good that it was, that is nice to see  

Lidl Tiverton, chod central today
Rough sounding diesel, what's that car?  Moves and shows me the front end, Renault badge, no, don't know that.  Shows me it's back end, Vel Satis!  R5MAN or MAM?
Also there,  an N reg 19d ZX
 

Incorrect.
VERDICT: TOP BLOKE.

one from the ARRSE forum under one of the less than PC desriptions applied it such vehicles

 
 

!!!!s parking on your drive
many of the suggestions could end up with you having a conviction for criminal damage that wouldn't look good on your CV (and would probably bar you from travelling the the USA, maybe not a bad thing?).  Just remember the 11th Commandment if you do take action, and that these days must include CCTV in the locality and the possibility of a CCTV system in the car itself.
From reading the many postings on this subject in Speeed, Plod and the Law in Pistonheads it seems to me that there is nothing legal you can do if someone parks on your drive but doesn't block you in. Just ensure you have a vehicle that is blocked in so the police have something to act on.  If you do crack a legal way to deal with the problem do let us all know. 
Could Zelandeth park on the local school's drive whilst not blocking anyone in? Sideways across the drive if neccessary.   He might think himself lucky that the parking is only short term around school arriving/departing and that he's not close to an airport  and has someone leave their car for weeks.

I've got to duck out of this weekend;  after 2 years Mrs K and I finally copped a dose of Covid, not that unexpected having spend a week in a coach with 40 others.  Fortunately we got the current low strength version but we are left feeling weary even after a good night's sleep;  not a good basis for a 300 mile drive each way in high temperatures.
Being old I had qualified for the fourth booster, and as with the first three suffered no ill effects.  Mrs K not being quite as geriatric doesn't qualify for the fourth booster but having been classed as vulnerable got isssued with a special set of tests, got ill, tested positive and has been issued with anti viral tablets - couriered out from the big Exeter hospital as neither of us were fit to drive to collect them. 
Hope everyone has a good weekend and NO FTPs
 
 
 
 

I've got to duck out of this weekend;  after 2 years Mrs K and I finally copped a dose of Covid, not that unexpected having spend a week in a coach with 40 others.  Fortunately we got the current low strength version but we are left feeling weary even after a good night's sleep;  not a good basis for a 300 mile drive each way in high temperatures.
Being old I had qualified for the fourth booster, and as with the first three suffered no ill effects.  Mrs K not being quite as geriatric doesn't qualify for the fourth booster but having been classed as vulnerable got isssued with a special set of tests, got ill, tested positive and has been issued with anti viral tablets - couriered out from the big Exeter hospital as neither of us were fit to drive to collect them. 
Hope everyone has a good weekend and NO FTPs
 
 
 
 

I've got to duck out of this weekend;  after 2 years Mrs K and I finally copped a dose of Covid, not that unexpected having spend a week in a coach with 40 others.  Fortunately we got the current low strength version but we are left feeling weary even after a good night's sleep;  not a good basis for a 300 mile drive each way in high temperatures.
Being old I had qualified for the fourth booster, and as with the first three suffered no ill effects.  Mrs K not being quite as geriatric doesn't qualify for the fourth booster but having been classed as vulnerable got isssued with a special set of tests, got ill, tested positive and has been issued with anti viral tablets - couriered out from the big Exeter hospital as neither of us were fit to drive to collect them. 
Hope everyone has a good weekend and NO FTPs
 
 
 
 

I've got to duck out of this weekend;  after 2 years Mrs K and I finally copped a dose of Covid, not that unexpected having spend a week in a coach with 40 others.  Fortunately we got the current low strength version but we are left feeling weary even after a good night's sleep;  not a good basis for a 300 mile drive each way in high temperatures.
Being old I had qualified for the fourth booster, and as with the first three suffered no ill effects.  Mrs K not being quite as geriatric doesn't qualify for the fourth booster but having been classed as vulnerable got isssued with a special set of tests, got ill, tested positive and has been issued with anti viral tablets - couriered out from the big Exeter hospital as neither of us were fit to drive to collect them. 
Hope everyone has a good weekend and NO FTPs
 
 
 
 

I've got to duck out of this weekend;  after 2 years Mrs K and I finally copped a dose of Covid, not that unexpected having spend a week in a coach with 40 others.  Fortunately we got the current low strength version but we are left feeling weary even after a good night's sleep;  not a good basis for a 300 mile drive each way in high temperatures.
Being old I had qualified for the fourth booster, and as with the first three suffered no ill effects.  Mrs K not being quite as geriatric doesn't qualify for the fourth booster but having been classed as vulnerable got isssued with a special set of tests, got ill, tested positive and has been issued with anti viral tablets - couriered out from the big Exeter hospital as neither of us were fit to drive to collect them. 
Hope everyone has a good weekend and NO FTPs
 
 
 
 

I've got to duck out of this weekend;  after 2 years Mrs K and I finally copped a dose of Covid, not that unexpected having spend a week in a coach with 40 others.  Fortunately we got the current low strength version but we are left feeling weary even after a good night's sleep;  not a good basis for a 300 mile drive each way in high temperatures.
Being old I had qualified for the fourth booster, and as with the first three suffered no ill effects.  Mrs K not being quite as geriatric doesn't qualify for the fourth booster but having been classed as vulnerable got isssued with a special set of tests, got ill, tested positive and has been issued with anti viral tablets - couriered out from the big Exeter hospital as neither of us were fit to drive to collect them. 
Hope everyone has a good weekend and NO FTPs
 
 
 
 

I've got to duck out of this weekend;  after 2 years Mrs K and I finally copped a dose of Covid, not that unexpected having spend a week in a coach with 40 others.  Fortunately we got the current low strength version but we are left feeling weary even after a good night's sleep;  not a good basis for a 300 mile drive each way in high temperatures.
Being old I had qualified for the fourth booster, and as with the first three suffered no ill effects.  Mrs K not being quite as geriatric doesn't qualify for the fourth booster but having been classed as vulnerable got isssued with a special set of tests, got ill, tested positive and has been issued with anti viral tablets - couriered out from the big Exeter hospital as neither of us were fit to drive to collect them. 
Hope everyone has a good weekend and NO FTPs
 
 
 
 

I've got to duck out of this weekend;  after 2 years Mrs K and I finally copped a dose of Covid, not that unexpected having spend a week in a coach with 40 others.  Fortunately we got the current low strength version but we are left feeling weary even after a good night's sleep;  not a good basis for a 300 mile drive each way in high temperatures.
Being old I had qualified for the fourth booster, and as with the first three suffered no ill effects.  Mrs K not being quite as geriatric doesn't qualify for the fourth booster but having been classed as vulnerable got isssued with a special set of tests, got ill, tested positive and has been issued with anti viral tablets - couriered out from the big Exeter hospital as neither of us were fit to drive to collect them. 
Hope everyone has a good weekend and NO FTPs
 
 
 
 

I've got to duck out of this weekend;  after 2 years Mrs K and I finally copped a dose of Covid, not that unexpected having spend a week in a coach with 40 others.  Fortunately we got the current low strength version but we are left feeling weary even after a good night's sleep;  not a good basis for a 300 mile drive each way in high temperatures.
Being old I had qualified for the fourth booster, and as with the first three suffered no ill effects.  Mrs K not being quite as geriatric doesn't qualify for the fourth booster but having been classed as vulnerable got isssued with a special set of tests, got ill, tested positive and has been issued with anti viral tablets - couriered out from the big Exeter hospital as neither of us were fit to drive to collect them. 
Hope everyone has a good weekend and NO FTPs
 
 
 
 

I've got to duck out of this weekend;  after 2 years Mrs K and I finally copped a dose of Covid, not that unexpected having spend a week in a coach with 40 others.  Fortunately we got the current low strength version but we are left feeling weary even after a good night's sleep;  not a good basis for a 300 mile drive each way in high temperatures.
Being old I had qualified for the fourth booster, and as with the first three suffered no ill effects.  Mrs K not being quite as geriatric doesn't qualify for the fourth booster but having been classed as vulnerable got isssued with a special set of tests, got ill, tested positive and has been issued with anti viral tablets - couriered out from the big Exeter hospital as neither of us were fit to drive to collect them. 
Hope everyone has a good weekend and NO FTPs
 
 
 
 

I've got to duck out of this weekend;  after 2 years Mrs K and I finally copped a dose of Covid, not that unexpected having spend a week in a coach with 40 others.  Fortunately we got the current low strength version but we are left feeling weary even after a good night's sleep;  not a good basis for a 300 mile drive each way in high temperatures.
Being old I had qualified for the fourth booster, and as with the first three suffered no ill effects.  Mrs K not being quite as geriatric doesn't qualify for the fourth booster but having been classed as vulnerable got isssued with a special set of tests, got ill, tested positive and has been issued with anti viral tablets - couriered out from the big Exeter hospital as neither of us were fit to drive to collect them. 
Hope everyone has a good weekend and NO FTPs
 
 
 
 

A breakfast for me please

'how much do you want to bet that my PIP tribunal will be scheduled right on the Friday'
Hope that goes well on the hearing;  from what I read I think how lucky I am not to be stuck in that morass

Seems not. Missing vital information already (breakfast photo, poo count)

Mr Fowler looks grim, are you on his totally least favourite train class?  

Seems not. Missing vital information already (breakfast photo, poo count)