Hello and er, welcome... I hope.

[xtriple]

Yes, 'tis I. You all thought you'd got rid of me for good but I have been 'lurking' on here for a few days and it seems to have calmed down now (it was getting very tetchy a few months ago - what happened in the end?) so I am back... if you good gents and ladies will allow?

 

So an update....

 

Cars:

The KIA continues to do my head in, the random misfire is getting worse and no one knows what the hell it is and (just after I had it MOT'd - phew!) the exhaust started to blow on one of the flexi bits. It was behaving itself and not misfiring/flashing the check light so I stuck it in for an MOT and the bugger passed, again! No advisories and then the exhaust started to blow on the way home! It actually sounds quite rorty, I sort of like it. Oh yeah, I had to have the front brakes re-built as they seized due to lack of use and the fact it is abandoned outside unused for months on end. Of course, the mechanic that did it scuffed the front bumper, but of course denied it, but they always do - my cars are fated to always get the bumper scuffed when in for work!

 

The Mazda continues to sit for months on end then starts and runs like it was last used yesterday. It has cost me precisely zero since service/MOT in March and even then, cambelt, service, gearbox service, diff oil changed and an MOT for under £500 made me happy(ish). They also scuffed the front bumper.... but, they owned up straight away and had it repaired within thee days so well even fussy old me can't see it.

 

The Big Green Dollop.

It has actually been totally reliable! Not misbehaved at all this year apart from the battery going flat if left for more than two weeks (even with the cut out off - they never totally shut down apparently) It was service and Mot time last week, a time I truly dread with this car... it passed its MOT with no advisories then failed its service!

 

Needed a rubber boot on a track rod end (£191!) as it was perished, it had an oil leak from the turbo oil return pipe (£200 odd for a gasket and an 'O' ring!)  oh yeah and all the drive belts were cracking and there's 5 of them... at Bentley prices - £275 plus VAT!

 

So I was hoping for a bill about £500 (maybe a bit more 'cos I requested Mobil 1 fully synthetic oil be used and there's 10 litres of the stuff in there) and was liberated of nearer £1600. Oh bollox...

 

Even when the thing goes well it still eats money at an alarming rate. Sensible people would flog it quick, no one has ever said I was sensible... Oh, and of course, they scuffed the flaming bumper! They did also 'own up' but I got it repaired as soon as it came home was tiny and they did tighten the bumper itself...

 

Health:

 

I think the definition here is: CRAP! Ended up staying at the BIG Torbay hotel for a few day (good old NHS) after everything ceased to work properly and all I did for the four days was worry about the dogs! I had to get out to see what was happening with them. Turned out the police/ambulance men rang the last number I'd dialled which was my Polish mate who came round and got them and looked after them for the duration, in fact so well, Chester the fat pig didn't want to come home!

 

Also ended up with a huge infection in my face as I am allergic to the new inhaler thing, it looked like I had leprosy or maybe I had finally reached puberty, whichever, really unpleasant. Now on a new regime and it is clearing up slowly... I still walk like the elephant man and my face is about as shapely!

 

Love life;

 

The tiny Polish doll dumped me a while ago (6 weeks?) as after one of those 'talks' we decided that we wanted and needed different things. She is young and wants kids/marriage/home/stability and a healthy boyfriend who doesn't collapse in a heap after ANY exertion, any.... So I got the flick. Who had 4.5 months in the sweepstake?

 

To be honest, I wasn't heart broken (not even sure I have a heart any more) as she was quite 'high maintenance' and liked spending money on stuff other than old cars, I am not so keen on spending on anything else apart from the dogs....

 

So, single again. Then met a lass (a couple of weeks later, not looking at all) while out with the dogs who was lovely, has a dog called 'Willow' (border collie) and we sat on the grass and chatted for a couple of hours. Well, I say we 'chatted' it was more she took the piss out of me for being old, and I took the piss out of her for being young and stupid. She drives a truly 'shite' auto - 52 reg Astra in un-polished blue with the most hideous, old fashioned alloy wheels I have seen in many a long year. The car was her Granddads' and he gave it to her a few months ago,, it really shows it was 'giffer' owned as I have never seen so many scuffs and dents on one vehicle before! It does drive really well and flies along so she's happy. But, the insurance! She pays more a month for insurance on it than I pay a YEAR on any of my three cars. That truly pee'd her off when I told her!

 

She is really good fun to be around, scruffy, badly dressed, opinionated, likes loud and decent music, is never short of an opinion or an insult and makes me laugh, which is much needed. It won't last of course, but hey... beggars and choosers and all that.

She works in an old peoples home so when she comes round here, she says it's a 'busmans' holiday   At least I don't need my bum wiping for me yet!

 

Dogs:

Phoebe is still the same, her legs are getting worse which is quite good for me as she is now as slow as me when walking - in fact, I frequently have to wait for her nowadays. I wish she was healthy, but... anyway, she's still happy and plays silly buggers at home, loves chasing her ball etc. So we keep going... long may we do so!

 

Chester is still... Chester! Even fatter than ever as he isn't getting all the walks he needs though he does get to play with a young dog (Willow) most afternoons, she bites him frequently when he's being horny (often) but he doesn't care - ain't love grand?

 

So, what's new here, what's happening/happened? Is the forum now under new management? I need to know all the gossip!

[cort16]

Yay xtriple is back ! Good to see you here again .

[Ghosty]

In short: more mods, Daveb47 is gone as it turned out he was a bit useless, and that shartyfartblast person with the red name is the webmin now. Donations are open again and the money goes on forum related stuff. Breadvan got bread-BANNED for a spat, and a couple of other people left/got banned too. We actually bother moderating now too it seems. 

 

Otherwise, it's as was really. Welcome back!

[Heidel_Kakao]

Welcome back I missed your tales of huge Bentley bills as it makes me feel better about how much money I "waste" on cars.

[xtriple]

Welcome back I missed your tales of huge Bentley bills as it makes me feel better about how much money I "waste" on cars.

 

I really hate those same tales! Along with its few jobs that needed doing urgently (apparently!) they also listed that it has oil leaks from the rocker covers (£850 plus VAT) the rear subframe bushes are perishing (£900 plus VAT) and to do another gearbox service (the oil 'smells' slightly which is annoying as it was only done last year) is another £353 plus VAT.

 

I got a bit panicky about these bits so had a chat with the boss, none of them are urgent, more a 'keep an eye on them' than anything and as the rocker covers are such a bitch to do ( all the fancy injection system has to come off and all the ram pipes will need new seals at a fiver  a pop and there's 16 of them and the plenums will need something or other) it is best to just leave them until something else goes wrong that necessitates the rockers coming off. That's cheerful then!

 

Oh and checking, it did 684 miles in a year! Is it really worth the hassle?

[chodweaver]

Welcome back Mr Triple! Very good to hear from you. Yes, normality has returned to the beige.

 

 

 

No, sorry, none of what goes on here passes for normal, but Ghosty is right: there is some moderation now (in both senses of the word), plus the odd roffle, a few weldathons of which Richardthestag is leading the charge with a RR classic restoration but, ooh, there is also a resto of a mk1 Granada coupe that is most awesome, a BX is in the process of being saved, while Vulg has taken on an ADO16 and is winning and there is much positive support and political debate* going on in the open fora. Business as usual... :>

 

 

Sent from my BV6000 using Tapatalk

[chodweaver]

 

 

Oh and checking, it did 684 miles in a year! Is it really worth the hassle?

That is a high cost per mile if you work it out (don't) but it also sounds like every mile is a priceless experience to you. And that's before the vicarious pleasure of several hundred other shiters is factored in... and I've been missing hearing about the blob's progress! And the Mazda. And the KIA. And the dogs.

 

Sent from my BV6000 using Tapatalk

[DVee8]

Good to see you back. Even though you ignored the Facebook posts

[STUNO]

Welcome back, you have been missed.

[vulgalour]

Welcome back!  It's good to know you're still stubbornly alive.  It'll be nice to feel smug about how much we're collectively not spending on our cars with your regular gigantic Bentley bill updates again.

[eddyramrod]

Welcome back, you have been missed.

 

 

Welcome back!  It's good to know you're still stubbornly alive.  It'll be nice to feel smug about how much we're collectively not spending on our cars with your regular gigantic Bentley bill updates again.

These.

 

Don't worry about the other stuff.  Even I threw my toys out and almost ran for the hills, but things/I calmed down and we've all been wondering where you were.  In hospital, eek!  Never mind, you're here now, and we are glad!

[Cheggers]

Thank god, I was sick with worry...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...The Bentley's OK

 

Sent from my SM-A310F using Tapatalk

[stripped fred]

Good to have you back xtriple. We are a soft lot on here and we have been thinking about you, and the Bentley!

 

This site is just what it used to be but better (IMHO). Please keep us updated on progress. Sorry to hear you've been unwell but hopefully you're on the mend.

[taxi paul]

I did wonder where you had gone.perhaps you could give some tips on meeting ladies over on the open forum. Some poor chaps have given up. But I'm sure that you have proved there is someone for everyone out there. Nice to see the Bentley acting like a MP and wanting lots spending on it while really not doing a lot.

[twosmoke300]

Good to see you back ! Look forward to dollop updates

[Cavcraft]

Seeing you back on here and finding out your new squeeze has a Vauxhall Astra is like winning the lottery and waking up to find a Hindustan Ambassador on your drive.

[purplebargeken]

Thank fuck for that. Most excellent to have you back       

[danthecapriman]

Welcome back triple X. Good to see your ok and the Bentley is still draining your wallet!

[M'coli]

Thank god, I was sick with worry...

 

 

 

 

 

 

...The dogs are OK

EFA

Welcome back, xtriple, nice to hear about the dogs again (ATCNBE).

[Slartibartfast]

Welcome back, chap

[xtriple]

Sorry if I missed Facebook posts, I didn't go on there much either (though my phone seems to keep me logged in even though I can't access facebook with it!). It's good to now someone out there loves me (sob!) even if it is just a bunch of random nuts on the internet!

 

I have no idea how I keep meeting women, it's a bloody mystery I do declare I think it's because I am a gobby sod and will talk to anyone, especially if they have a dog! I used to be on the look out for a new bird and got nowhere, as soon as I stopped looking, I was in demand. Life is odd.... It's a sad fact of (my) life that I get on really well with older ladies (two of my best friends are Betty - 84 and Heather - 85, both fabulous old birds with a rich life and fantastic outlooks) and much younger women, while women who are 'age appropriate' just don't 'get me' at all! I went out with two ladies who were about my age and there was nothing there at all for me - one was really nice, but boring though now a friend and the other was a secret boozer which freaks me out. Perhaps I should just 'grow up' but I fear there is too little time left for me to do that

 

Having said all the above, I have become more withdrawn during this year and don't talk to all and sundry as much, which is probably for the best.

[Bren]

Welcome back. And yes, I am probably still the angriest person on here.

[Eddie Honda]

Welcome back Dave. I thought it was either under the patio and Bentley had headed east or you got ideas above your station and preferred poncing around in the Bentley circles.

[Timewaster]

I had declared you legally dead and was attempting to claim the Bentley.

 

Glad you are back.

 

Ish.

 

Stupid Bentley would have bankrupted me anyway.

[tooSavvy]

.... aye!

 

TS

[xtriple]

Welcome back Dave. I thought it was either under the patio and Bentley had headed east or you got ideas above your station and preferred poncing around in the Bentley circles.

 

Err, no chance of that! I was invited to a Bentley owners club do, went and hated every minute of it! A woman (old, wrinkled hag!) complained bitterly about Chester who had attempted (and missed) to pee on a wheel, she scowled at me/us whenever we were around. The vast majority were exactly as you would expect, right p their own arses! I really, REALLY did not enjoy it. However, there were some beautiful cars there: 1920s Rolls-Royce that had been driven many miles to attend and a mega rare Bentley Continental based on a 1964 Silver Cloud 3 (properly called an S3 as it's a Bentley) with 4 doors, really low and with a fantastic interior.  There was also any number of cars like mine so no interest.

 

I can honestly say: I felt like setting up shop there selling sport jackets and cravats!

[Twiggy]

Grand to see you back ! I was wondering the other day where you`d got to...

[wuvvum]

Welcome back. And yes, I am probably still the angriest person on here.

Bren, I'd like you to meet Alcyonecorporation.

[fordperv]

Welcome back

[Lacquer Peel]

Welcome back.

I'm curious about the track rod end boot, surely it's just a generic one they bought for less than a fiver