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not what you would expect to see parked up on a street corner in byker ! (a not too great part of newcastle)


 
 

i popped in to see my mam on the way to work on monday, the stupid bini refused to start when i left so i had to borrow her astra  
it was pouring down yesterday so i only had a brief look, i tried the second key - nothing, i hooked up jump leads - nothing, i gave it a stern look - nothing. so i gave up  and borrowed the astra again.
then it occurred to me that i may have breakdown cover on my insurance ?

nice one - even if it’s fucked, i can get it towed home to work on.
i rang the number which sent me a text with a weblink to a form to report my breakdown. sounds rather convoluted but it worked well.
expecting a bit of a wait, i put the kettle on and was pleased to see a message forecasting attendance in approx two hours. so i cancelled the coffee and headed down to me mams house to wait there instead. 5 mins later the phone is ringing and the rac guy will be with me in 10 mins. 
rightly enough, he turned up promptly, stuck his mega jump leads on and pronounced the starter motor dead. he moved his van then gave me a shove down the street and i bump started it in reverse  
you can’t fault service like that - well done, the rac !
i nervously drove it up to scaryoldcortinas place, desperately trying not to stall. as he had just finished doing the mot on the mx5 we swapped over and he will sort the bini in the morning.
 

not what you would expect to see parked up on a street corner in byker ! (a not too great part of newcastle)


 
 

not what you would expect to see parked up on a street corner in byker ! (a not too great part of newcastle)


 
 

i popped in to see my mam on the way to work on monday, the stupid bini refused to start when i left so i had to borrow her astra  
it was pouring down yesterday so i only had a brief look, i tried the second key - nothing, i hooked up jump leads - nothing, i gave it a stern look - nothing. so i gave up  and borrowed the astra again.
then it occurred to me that i may have breakdown cover on my insurance ?

nice one - even if it’s fucked, i can get it towed home to work on.
i rang the number which sent me a text with a weblink to a form to report my breakdown. sounds rather convoluted but it worked well.
expecting a bit of a wait, i put the kettle on and was pleased to see a message forecasting attendance in approx two hours. so i cancelled the coffee and headed down to me mams house to wait there instead. 5 mins later the phone is ringing and the rac guy will be with me in 10 mins. 
rightly enough, he turned up promptly, stuck his mega jump leads on and pronounced the starter motor dead. he moved his van then gave me a shove down the street and i bump started it in reverse  
you can’t fault service like that - well done, the rac !
i nervously drove it up to scaryoldcortinas place, desperately trying not to stall. as he had just finished doing the mot on the mx5 we swapped over and he will sort the bini in the morning.
 

not what you would expect to see parked up on a street corner in byker ! (a not too great part of newcastle)


 
 

not what you would expect to see parked up on a street corner in byker ! (a not too great part of newcastle)


 
 

not what you would expect to see parked up on a street corner in byker ! (a not too great part of newcastle)


 
 

not what you would expect to see parked up on a street corner in byker ! (a not too great part of newcastle)


 
 

not what you would expect to see parked up on a street corner in byker ! (a not too great part of newcastle)


 
 

not what you would expect to see parked up on a street corner in byker ! (a not too great part of newcastle)


 
 

not what you would expect to see parked up on a street corner in byker ! (a not too great part of newcastle)


 
 

i popped in to see my mam on the way to work on monday, the stupid bini refused to start when i left so i had to borrow her astra  
it was pouring down yesterday so i only had a brief look, i tried the second key - nothing, i hooked up jump leads - nothing, i gave it a stern look - nothing. so i gave up  and borrowed the astra again.
then it occurred to me that i may have breakdown cover on my insurance ?

nice one - even if it’s fucked, i can get it towed home to work on.
i rang the number which sent me a text with a weblink to a form to report my breakdown. sounds rather convoluted but it worked well.
expecting a bit of a wait, i put the kettle on and was pleased to see a message forecasting attendance in approx two hours. so i cancelled the coffee and headed down to me mams house to wait there instead. 5 mins later the phone is ringing and the rac guy will be with me in 10 mins. 
rightly enough, he turned up promptly, stuck his mega jump leads on and pronounced the starter motor dead. he moved his van then gave me a shove down the street and i bump started it in reverse  
you can’t fault service like that - well done, the rac !
i nervously drove it up to scaryoldcortinas place, desperately trying not to stall. as he had just finished doing the mot on the mx5 we swapped over and he will sort the bini in the morning.
 

i should have bought one of these years ago - what a cracking piece of kit ! and excellent value thanks to @DVee8’s trade card.
the lad in the shop had a chuckle when he saw i’d come to collect it in the mx5 but it fitted perfectly in the boot

weighed a fucking ton when i tried to lift it out ! 
also i took a short cut to avoid traffic and got the mazda a little bit dirty

good news is that it’s had its rear sill repaired and passed its mot   
(with the usual advisory for the exhaust !)

i should have bought one of these years ago - what a cracking piece of kit ! and excellent value thanks to @DVee8’s trade card.
the lad in the shop had a chuckle when he saw i’d come to collect it in the mx5 but it fitted perfectly in the boot

weighed a fucking ton when i tried to lift it out ! 
also i took a short cut to avoid traffic and got the mazda a little bit dirty

good news is that it’s had its rear sill repaired and passed its mot   
(with the usual advisory for the exhaust !)

i should have bought one of these years ago - what a cracking piece of kit ! and excellent value thanks to @DVee8’s trade card.
the lad in the shop had a chuckle when he saw i’d come to collect it in the mx5 but it fitted perfectly in the boot

weighed a fucking ton when i tried to lift it out ! 
also i took a short cut to avoid traffic and got the mazda a little bit dirty

good news is that it’s had its rear sill repaired and passed its mot   
(with the usual advisory for the exhaust !)

i should have bought one of these years ago - what a cracking piece of kit ! and excellent value thanks to @DVee8’s trade card.
the lad in the shop had a chuckle when he saw i’d come to collect it in the mx5 but it fitted perfectly in the boot

weighed a fucking ton when i tried to lift it out ! 
also i took a short cut to avoid traffic and got the mazda a little bit dirty

good news is that it’s had its rear sill repaired and passed its mot   
(with the usual advisory for the exhaust !)

i should have bought one of these years ago - what a cracking piece of kit ! and excellent value thanks to @DVee8’s trade card.
the lad in the shop had a chuckle when he saw i’d come to collect it in the mx5 but it fitted perfectly in the boot

weighed a fucking ton when i tried to lift it out ! 
also i took a short cut to avoid traffic and got the mazda a little bit dirty

good news is that it’s had its rear sill repaired and passed its mot   
(with the usual advisory for the exhaust !)

One for @LightBulbFun

the green monster has departed to a new life with Chris in manchester

i’m sad to see it go but he was so excited when he came to collect it that i know it will be in good hands. 

which left an empty garage…

hmm, time to go shopping ? 
 

the green monster has departed to a new life with Chris in manchester

i’m sad to see it go but he was so excited when he came to collect it that i know it will be in good hands. 

which left an empty garage…

hmm, time to go shopping ? 
 

the green monster has departed to a new life with Chris in manchester

i’m sad to see it go but he was so excited when he came to collect it that i know it will be in good hands. 

which left an empty garage…

hmm, time to go shopping ? 
 

Spot on! 1959 93b 

Blowing a gale up here today, so I retreated to the garage with an idea of fettling with the Spitfire.
The stitching of the soft top seams has gradually been unravelling over the past year, I had them held together (more or less) with many pieces of gaffer tape - which wasn't really an ideal solution - so I thought, how difficult can it be to re-stitch them?
Never having sewn anything for at least half a century, after some advice from my wife, I set to the task!
Turned out okayish, won't win any prizes for neatness but better than sticky tape.
 

a prius being booted round Knockhill by the stig