Two days collection and drops

[Stanky]

NSL innit? WAI R U NOT DO 60MPH M8?

[Ohdearme]

Found mates and got dinner waiting.

these people, etc!!

[Ohdearme]

Oh look, m25 closed.

[loserone]

Ha! He just drove past fiddler's hamlet

[TeamdB]

Got to love a back road! ? 

[Rave]

3 hours ago, Ohdearme said:

Cannot make this shit up, missed a turn with all the ruddy roadworks and it stuck me on the m26 or some bollocks.

 

A one way ticket onthe m25 and and extra 45 minutes on my run.

i was just getting over being annoyed by it and a truck above me on the flyover smashed a pigeon for six and I had to swerve to avoid a double tap of the recently deceased feather bundle.

 

im currently in clacket Lane services trying to suss our if  there’s a perfectly legal* backroad I can get out on.

bloody Nora!

Bit late now but Google reckons you can escape Clacket Lane services onto...Clacket Lane!

Commiserations anyway, you've managed to get stuck on the motorway with the longest section between exits in the entire country, so that's something of a claim to fame at least. I was a bit cheesed off last week when I missed the sliproad for Peterborough services and had to go a mile and a half up the A1139 before I could turn around. I did once manage to take the wrong M20 sliproad coming back on the M25 from Essex though, and it's a fair old distance between Junction 1 and Junction 2.

[TeamdB]

1 hour ago, Ohdearme said:

Oh look, m25 closed.

https://glympse.com/0AYC-2XA4?utm_source=here-invite&utm_medium=email&utm_content=url-invite-main-wide&utm_campaign=invite

How far are you currently from home then? 

[Ohdearme]

So after the m25 being shut, the A14 is too, so pulled in to Cambridge services for a piss stop.

And an espresso (I’m not paying more just so they can put more water in) and a McFlurry. 

Time to reflect on events so far...the SAAB is lovely and smooth, very relaxing (when the roads actually allow me to not sit in a jam).

pushing the accelerator feels like pushing the piston in on some old Victorian contraption and the car is a perfect mile muncher.

however, @Vantman your observation about sometimes you might need to wait for headlights to wake up came back to me as I was driving, as did the bit in the Wicker Man where Edward woddwoodwardwoodward is screaming “Oh Jesus Christ, no!”

you see, as it’s so relaxing, the SAAB has devised a game a bit like whack-a-Mole to keep me alert.

I already knew the right indicators didn’t work on the stalk but the car randomly decided to start putting full beam on.

At first, this could be corrected by pulling the stalk back, but then sometimes it required a quick switch off of the lights and back on again and it reset everything for a bit, then it would pop back on.

I’d dropped to sidelights in the traffic jam to avoid people seeing me flashing periodically and thinking I was up for some impromptu dogging (it would ruin the excellently kept velour).

Back on the open and unlit road, all was well, even the beam seemed to have stopped messing and then ‘pooof’ no lights!

Flicking the switch off and on did nowt so a fumble with the fogs got me some decent forward light for a few miles and much chin rubbing as what to do next, drive like that or hold full beam on for ages?

I then stumbled on a solution so crazy it just might work. I indicated left and the beams reappeared.

I have a strong suspicion all is not well in the fuse box department. I’ll have a quick look tomorrow before delivering.

Eta for the dvla sorn is screwed, but I might just bing the cartakeback bloke a fiver to help him remember the date of ownership change was the 31st July.

Whack a mole round 2!

eta home about half midnight!

[Ohdearme]

9 minutes ago, TeamdB said:

How far are you currently from home then? 

About 150 miles  as the crow (and not a recently spaffed off a windscreen pigeon) flies.

i love it, really, I do - I’m slightly odd.

[Tickman]

6 hours ago, loserone said:

Does noone else keep the document reference numbers for all their cars in Vehicle Smart? Saves worrying about a misplaced v5.

No, but I will now.

[Ohdearme]

Home arrived at, lights obviously got upset at being told off and behaved perfectly all the way from Cambridge to home.

Route not quite to plan as the A1 was also shut for a stretch near peter-bog-horror, had visions of having to go over to the m1 and up but turned out to be just a few junctions.

Home with assorted shite

Alas, as I pulled into the drive, I remembered the Audi is at the station and it’s MOT is tomorrow so there’ll be another mini adventure tomorrow of me swapping about in car parks and trying to get to Saxilby in time to get my 9:30 train back.

for now, this ends where it started, more peanut-Chocco porn...with added nightcap and yes, I’m having a drink from the bottle...slightly past caring

Night all.

 

[Ohdearme]

2 hours ago, Rave said:

Bit late now but Google reckons you can escape Clacket Lane services onto...Clacket Lane!

Commiserations anyway, you've managed to get stuck on the motorway with the longest section between exits in the entire country, so that's something of a claim to fame at least. I was a bit cheesed off last week when I missed the sliproad for Peterborough services and had to go a mile and a half up the A1139 before I could turn around. I did once manage to take the wrong M20 sliproad coming back on the M25 from Essex though, and it's a fair old distance between Junction 1 and Junction 2.

I had a vague memory clacker had a backroad (like East Kilbride) but there was a barrier down across it and lots of signs saying cctv and ‘don’t be a naughty twat or we’ll chin you’ so I opted to go back on the m25 and switchback at next junction.

[TeamdB]

I'm wondering if the lights issue might be more like the indicator stalk being a bit geriatric. Quick research shows they are a failing point. I think I might replace that as a first port of call. 

[Vantman]

It does work sometimes! I was out in it for most of yesterday and it worked ok. Othertimes it failed and I would forget to cancel it and then all of a sudden it would start working causing much confusion to me and other motorists!

[Ohdearme]

26 minutes ago, TeamdB said:

I'm wondering if the lights issue might be more like the indicator stalk being a bit geriatric. Quick research shows they are a failing point. I think I might replace that as a first port of call. 

I was gong to suggest this as some waggling about caused stuff to happen but I decided late at night on the A1 wasn’t the time to be experimenting  

[Vantman]

Headlamp issue may be the orange relay,under bonnet,fuse box near battery.    Was the Dart Charge paid please?

[Ohdearme]

29 minutes ago, Vantman said:

Headlamp issue may be the orange relay,under bonnet,fuse box near battery.    Was the Dart Charge paid please?

Yes, paid the dart charge this morning!

and popped out both relays and gave them a little tickle with some emery cloth.

just deciding whether to eat my kitkat or buttered malt loaf from the shop first.

Another breakfast of champions.

 

[Vantman]

Thanks. Malt loaf every time!

[TeamdB]

I'm a malt loaf man too. These relays are seemingly inexpensive and easy to get hold of so no biggy 

 

[Ohdearme]

It’s like Dartford all over again, but 40p!

 

arrival!

[TeamdB]

Preparing sustainance for Ohdearme's return journey

[Ohdearme]

Killing time at the train station and got a text confirming the collection for Sharan tomorrow...

Thats an awfully accurate time window from Car take back!

0.033 of a second?

[Ohdearme]

Handover compete, forgot to take photo as one eye on train...

long distance shiter shot.

Hasn’t lost any water, and the headlights didn’t play up but trying the beam was a bit intermittent.

my money is on a new stalk.

[TeamdB]

Now snoozing in her new parking spot until the insurance swap kicks in tomorrow. Thanks again to Vantman and Ohdearme for everything. You guys are living legends. 

[Ohdearme]

Happy to be on a position to help out.

Plus, my 9000 box is ticked.

[drewd]

I had a Skoda Favorit years ago that used to flash main beam when indicating. I managed to fix it by dousing the stalk in electrical contact cleaner.

[TeamdB]

Driven to Derby hospital this morning for an appointment and she's beautiful! Averaging 34.6mpg too

[TeamdB]

38.2mpg on the way home...better than the fester!!! 

[Ohdearme]

9 hours ago, TeamdB said:

38.2mpg on the way home...better than the fester!!! 

Key is to keep it in the solid ‘eco’ zone and you’re off boost and absurdly frugal, one steep hills knock it in neutral for full hyper milerz