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I was backshift today; light to Helensburgh for 1600 to do a short 310 to the airport, light to Springboig, route 36 in, 36 out, light back to the airport, 310 back to Helensburgh and light to the garage. Today's chariot was this somewhat severe looking 2013 Mercedes Vario O816D, which I try to pull for my backshifts where possible because it's warm and it goes like fuck. POP QUIZ - What are the headlights from? It was light at 6pm when I started my 36s which was nice. It was dark and fucking pissing down when I got back in at midnight. Bus swept, mopped, fuelled and run through the wash then parked up; it's back out at 7am, I am thankfully not.

One of the lads I work with became a dad for the first time last year at the age of 53. His missus is 29 years his junior. Today is his 54th birthday. Another colleague chose to wish him a happy birthday on facebook... 😂

Can't remember if I replied to this before... no idea what order they came in, can remember all the registrations though just about. Buses: Dodge S56 D702 EES Leyland Leopard GCS 57V, GCS 69V, HCS 793N Leyland Nationals NIL 7242 (AHH 206T), PIL 7013 (AFM 2W), SHH 389X Mercedes 608D D124 NUS Dennis Lancet D631 BPL Seddon Pennine VII - DSD 983V Cars Austin: 2 Maestro 1.6L E532 TYD Montego EFi F312 GKN Fiat: 2 126 H207 AYS Ducato K187 JGY Ford: 8 Focus Mk1 SJ54 NZF Focus Mk2 SJ57 OEY Mondeo Mk2 x2 W676 WCS, X448 TSS Mondeo Mk4 SG60 WKZ Orion Ghia A787 XSD Fiesta Courier Combi 3U8 1442 Transit L420 EAB Hyundai: 3 Accent: P842 RGG Stellar: E312 SKN, E591 BRM Peugeot: 7 205 x2 - D782 DTR, K457 FKW 206 x1 - WL54 FKA 406 x3 - P622 MFL, KV03 ZJK, SP02 YGU 407 x1 - SD56 MOU Proton: 2 1.5GL - J512 PVC Persona TDi - R772 ESX Rover: 2 414i Sprint - M497 KVP Montego LX - J714 MCK Toyota: 1 carina E: N840 MNS Vauxhall: 9 Cavalier Mk3 x4 - G341 NTO, K658 BBD, M726 TMJ, N702 UVN Senator - J455 PKX Astra Mk3: K730 ANV Astra Mk4: KF54 ZMV Astra Mk5 x2: SB07 DVT, KC56 YTY Volvo: 21 340 x2: NGB 508Y, B719 WAT 440: M751 TBF 740 x4: E113 MFK, E29 XGA, G476 WOY, G214 UYE 760 x2: E33 XGD, D466 OJS 850 x5: P811 UGB, E101 UNS, L113 WNH, N425 HOY, P685 TFC 940 x2: R168 NBM, K321 UOD V40: Y369 XRM S60: Y983 JFC V70: NL60 HJX XC90: CV53 TGK Wartburg: 1 353 Tourist: 5U0 2742 59 Cars, 10 buses? Something like that. May have missed a handful. Been driving since mid 2004.

Me either! Would absolutely add to my collection, it looks ace!

I've driven that, 2013 IIRC. Drove really well actually, though if memory serves the price of rear tyres was eyewatering - 455/50R22.5s weren't that common back then. It was a demonatrator but originally operated for Reading.

I've barely seen this sodding thing in daylight; go to work in the dark, come home in the dark... Only updates to note are it's booked in for a cambelt change (no record, though the rest of the sizable history file suggests it has been done) and it's now lost it's private plate. Reverse is occasionally a bit of an arse to engage, but on my mixed commute it's sitting at 49.5mpg on the computer. I'll take that. Big brother seems to approve also...

Pffft. You act like I've got a history of unannounced silver diesel 406 purchases.

It's not as slow as I expected to be honest but I wouldn't want to try the 1.6D in a V70. Pulls well through the gears, seems to be mega on fuel too. Absolutely unstressed on the 200-odd mile journey home.

I've done had a clear out recently; things have been... a bit shite. My fleet size has been halved, for various reasons, while the daily XC90 grenaded on January 3rd leaving me without transport. I bullied my former apprentice into loaning me one of his fleet (a BMW 120D); when it sold, work provided me with a 1.3 diesel Corsavan. I had said I'd use the train but I couldn't start before 7am but that was fucked right out the window and they insisted. The search started. I viewed some truely horrific specimens, from an 04 Zafira which died spectacularly on the test drive to an 07 Passat with no wheelarches, via a very tidy Mazda 6 which turned out to have no floor. An appeal on facebook yielded a few likely candidates more or less in my meagre budget and I was set to go today to collect an 11-plate Seat Exeo estate. That, alas, did not pan out. The deal collapsed yesterday. Panic set in... I've been without a car for eight weeks. I really need to get something. Anything. A chance encounter turned up something that fitted the bit. The owner was willing to do a deal in budget. The car however, was in Elgin. So I went to Elgin, handed over more money than I've ever spent on a car in my life, and brought home the newcomer for judgement...

As a wise man once said...

Well... we are home and the results are in. I'll take that.

It was only going to end one way, wasn't it?

Bye bye driver

Inverness has been achieved. No pictures though as it is getting dark and there was literally seconds between connections. Next train!

43152 provides the next part of the journey...

There are a number of strong looks today.

At this point I've been in so many stations I don't know if it's Sheffield Tuesday or Pancake Wednesday.

smol chrain is smol

fwend

"Is that your dog love? It looks a helluva like you!"

Two smol dogs are in a perambulator on the train It is a modern world. *UPDATE* one of the smol dogs is now out. Exciting times.

Stage the second. But first, an interval.

Good morning people of the internet. I have killed all my cars so have had to buy a new one. It is 11.15am as I type this and I have done three poos and one small vomit as a result of a choking fit. Stage one was returning a 1.3 diesel Corsavan to my work, where today's caper starts.

Two of this week's high mileage heroes, Volvo B12Bs KEZ 9120/21 new to Ulsterbus in 2006.

Been away for a while again. Still driving buses, but also now done this... standby* for a manky old Plaxton Ford suitably branded for Beige Package Holidays, under the ARSE (Autoshite Recreation Services & Excursions) banner.