Datsuncog's Heaps: May 2025 - Fleet Addition, Avensising

[Datsuncog]

And, we're boarding.

Oo-er.

Catch you on the other side, cats and kittens.

[bunglebus]

So you're flying into London, on the same day I'm flying out of London to Berlin for a collection (of the work van). Have fun at Heathrow, I'm going to Stansted 

[Datsuncog]

Not London this time, no...

Plane's pretty quiet; only about 15 fellow-passengers on board with me. Mel's up the front, but then I guess he's Hollywood royalty (unlike Rory McIlroy, who's Holywood royalty).

Mildly concerned at the lack of phone charge points, both in the airport and on the plane. The carrier suddenly doesn't allow portable chargers to be brought onboard, so I've had to leave my handy little Pom power bank behind - and my battery level's dropping like the depreciation value on a big Alfa.

I'm hoping the chap listening to a Ken Follett audiobook on his phone speaker either turns it off, puts in some headphones, or gets forcibly ejected once we hit 30,000 feet.

[Split_Pin]

Hopefully Mel hasn't grounded the plane just yet and that hearty breakfast has soaked up last night's alcohol...

[Split_Pin]

Tea and coffee is being served. Mel. Just. Don't.

 

[beko1987]

1 hour ago, Datsuncog said:

Mel must have gone on ahead without me; presumably he's already through security and in the departure lounge.

Security staff are always great craic before 6am.

Apparently my CD wallet was a matter of great concern, and potentially a threat to national security.

They took it away and rubbed it with wipes that they then fed into a machine.

Presumably it told them that Super Furry Animals' much-maligned third studio album was criminally misunderstood and critically underrated, and therefore did not warrant being taken away and blown up.

Which was a relief.

They also looked confused at my cassette tapes.

But...

CDs and cassettes?

Could this be a clue of some sort?

Naaaah...

Got any jungle in? 

Chod speed!

[smellypoo]

26 minutes ago, beko1987 said:

Got any jungle in? 

Chod speed!

Exactly what I thought when I saw the Human Traffic CD! 😂

[bangernomics]

Southampton?

[Datsuncog]

And we're landed.

Mel was off first.

It was a bit less murky in Belfast, weirdly.

Mind you, I think much of the misting might be from the windows rather than the climate, though as we all know...

Even though I'm quite a bit further south than when I started.

[Datsuncog]

Delightfully scenic.

There's a lot of building work apparently going on.

I declined the opportunity to pay an extra £2.50 just to get a tenner out of an ATM; apparently the bus takes card payments.

15 minutes to wait!

The bus sounds better equipped than the plane, to be fair.

[N Dentressangle]

Exciting*

Look forward to developments

[Split_Pin]

Mels going to fit right in there.

[Sunny Jim]

6 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

Delightfully scenic.

Nah M9, those are Vitos

[Split_Pin]

Will you be North-ing some more? 

I'm trying to identify the car from the For Sale section (unless it's from elsewhere!)

[Datsuncog]

12 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

Will you be North-ing some more? 

I'm trying to identify the car from the For Sale section (unless it's from elsewhere!)

Nope, I'm south-westering now!

Next means of transport has rocked up.

I don't believe the target vehicle has put in an appearance on the For Sale sub-forum - though I did indirectly find it via an ad posted on the eBay Tat thread!

[N Dentressangle]

Hang on.

You're buying a car from Bradford?

[Datsuncog]

Ding ding, all aboard.

Bus has a handy charging socket, which is just as well as my phone's dropped below 50%.

Not too far to go now.

[Datsuncog]

1 minute ago, N Dentressangle said:

Hang on.

You're buying a car from Bradford?

That's the plan!

The other plan is to head back to the airport, if it's a heap.

But I'm hoping it's not a heap.

Well, not that much of a heap.

[N Dentressangle]

1 minute ago, Datsuncog said:

That's the plan!

The other plan is to head back to the airport, if it's a heap.

But I'm hoping it's not a heap.

Well, not that much of a heap.

[Datsuncog]

Wise or not, it's happening...

Some more clues?

 

[Datsuncog]

And the reason for tapes and CDs:

Although I'm informed 'the stereo has a mind of its own'.

Just as well I've a backup plan...

 

[N Dentressangle]

An Avensis!

Can't see the hole cut for the taximeter? 🤔

[Split_Pin]

"How big do you want to design the air recirculation controller, boss".

"THIS big"

Well played man, I need to tick off the early 00s Toyota box at some point.

[320touring]

Looking at the stereo, is it a CDX (I think)trim?

Fatha_touring had a blue, auto one that served as the main car for quite some time when @jaypee and I were but pups.

We both hated it as we frequently had to borrow it's reliable automaticness when our old crocks were down.

It was unnerving  in its relentless operation. Like a bland Terminator. 

Was an ace car in retrospect.

[bunglebus]

You obviously didn't take a pic of the plane you were getting on! Sold me a dummy...

[beko1987]

Is this to replace yours or does mrsDC want a his and hers one?

[Datsuncog]

1 hour ago, bunglebus said:

You obviously didn't take a pic of the plane you were getting on! Sold me a dummy...

Heh, I thought that was the plane! My ticket had a BA flight number, but it was one of those split service jobs and I ended up on an Aer Lingus Embraer turboprop...

46 minutes ago, beko1987 said:

Is this to replace yours or does mrsDC want a his and hers one?

It's a new addition to what's rapidly becoming our late '90s/ early '00s Toyota fleet, so it's not replacing anything!

It's in MrsDC's name, and is her car, but I'm looking forward to driving it too - starting with the 200+ miles to get up to the ferry...

[Datsuncog]

Well then, obligatory pez shot:

And more to come - but right now, I gotta hit the north... to the M6!

[beko1987]

That's a very attractive estate. Can't remember when I last saw an estate one 🤔

[warninglight]

Might spot you on the M6 in Cumbria later - will be in the big white Crafter van that's flashing if so!