Wibble’s Wittering - Cortina, Senator & occasional Skoda & family ramblings, soz!

[High Jetter]

Blurred plate?

[Wibble]

20 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

Blurred plate?

That’s Google, not me. I think it was L782TWK.

[Wibble]

I gave the Superb a quick wash before we head off tomorrow. It’s actually the first wash it’s had this year. I’ll give it a more thorough clean after we’re back:

I also dealt with my minor indiscretion from a few months back:

A bit of compound and polish and it’s sorted

Autosmart Ali Shine made light work of the alloys. Just don’t let it dry!

[Wibble]

@Dick Longbridge asked for more history of my parents, so this is for you and others who expressed interest.

Firstly, I don’t really know where to start but I couldn’t have wished for a better Mum and Dad.

Dad, born in 1935 in Dublin. His father was MD of Reckitt & Coleman, Ireland. Dad went to a couple of boarding schools but was never happy with the academic side of things. He was at Rockwell college in Dublin and I’m not sure if this was when he ran away, or another college after. Anyway, he saved his allowance and legged it, booking a one way ticket to Holyhead.

Once he’d arrived, he hitched to London and contacted someone they’d met on holiday and secured a bed for the night, which he occupied for two years before reconciling with his Dad and getting sponsored by his uncle to go to the USA.

Unfortunately, his uncle, who had a successful supermarket in Singapore, and was previously a Japanese POW, was killed in a plane crash, so that avenue closed and Dad remained in the US, driving yellow cabs and flipping burgers, until he got pissed off and thought there had to be a better life. After a failed attempt at joining the highway patrol, he was half an inch too short, he joined the United States Army Airforce.

In the meantime, Mum, born in Bundoran, County Donegal, 1937, was a nun and teaching in Kenya, Africa. Her parents owned the most prominent pub in town. Her father sadly died young at 44, so I never met him but his name can still be seen in that pub today.

She was having second thoughts about life as a nun and left before taking her final vows, with the blessing of a local priest in Kenya, who wrote to my grandmother explaining why it was the right thing and not to be ashamed.

That didn’t stop the locals gossiping. She met my Dad soon after, he was introduced to her by his sister, who she knew from college.

Many years later, my Dad and I were in a pub after a days fishing, when a drunk old boy came over and said, “aren’t you the fella that climbed the convent walls for the Doherty girl?”

I’ve probably missed everything out that you wanted @Dick Longbridge, so sorry about that. A couple of early photos of them here, let me know if you want me to elaborate on anything.

 

[High Jetter]

My wife is related to Doherty's, mebbe not the same ones as it's a common name. Mustard story tho (sorry)

[Wibble]

14 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

My wife is related to Doherty's, mebbe not the same ones as it's a common name. Mustard story tho (sorry)

You never know…

[Wibble]

Just back from our short break in Great Yarmouth. A quarter of a tank used for 200 miles.

What a great few days though! We’ve been bowling, on roller coaster and been at an amazing fireworks display last night. Street performers a bit meh though.

Also made a trip to Norwich, haven’t been in 8 years. Back then I bought cement, and various tools to re-erect the fallen grave stone of my great grand parents. Delighted to find it is still standing now:

Pretty hard to read now but I’ll try and rectify that in the future.

Anyway, it’s been a good, albeit rather expensive few days, but worth it, as my anxiety levels have dropped significantly. Cheers all, God bless.

[Dick Cheeseburger]

I thought I'd replied to this the other day @Wibble - thanks for sharing. Fascinating reading!

[Wibble]

1 hour ago, Dick Cheeseburger said:

I thought I'd replied to this the other day @Wibble - thanks for sharing. Fascinating reading!

Thank you. Just a brief summary so as not to bore too many folks🙂.

Just as an aside, my Dad’s uncle was William Fitzpatrick and there is some info about his supermarket on line. His business partner carried on the business for a time after his death and it was quite successful:

[Wibble]

And, it seems inevitably, shit returns. My best old friend from my Thames Water days, got in touch this evening. He’s been diagnosed with stomach cancer. Has an operation next week to remove two thirds of his stomach, yet he feels fine. He’s naturally scared and I’m praying for him.

One day, I sincerely hope, I’ll have good news to report and you guys will be the first to know.

[danthecapriman]

That’s really not good news! Fingers crossed it’s been caught early and he can get the op done and recover with no further issues.🤞

I guess (but I’m no doctor!) the fact he feels fine might mean it has been caught in time.

[Wibble]

49 minutes ago, danthecapriman said:

That’s really not good news! Fingers crossed it’s been caught early and he can get the op done and recover with no further issues.🤞

I guess (but I’m no doctor!) the fact he feels fine might mean it has been caught in time.

Yes, I think so Dan and I’m hoping for the best. I’m just so tired of bad news. Mrs W has another blood test tomorrow and has, at last, got an appointment with neurologist for December to determine if her latest problem is Parkinson’s or not. And I’d really like a job I loved as much as my last one. 

I’m being unrealistic now, sorry🙂

[N19]

Fingers crossed for you; its clearly been a year of hell from all sides. Thoughts are with you for something to start getting better soon...

[Wibble]

1 hour ago, N19 said:

Fingers crossed for you; its clearly been a year of hell from all sides. Thoughts are with you for something to start getting better soon...

Thanks man, much appreciated, has been a rough ride for the last couple of years. Hopefully things will get a bit easier soon🤞

[Wibble]

This is going to prove costly but I’m fed up with my knackered back and buggered arms stopping me from doing things. I want to use my cars.

So the Yeti is booked in for a service next Wednesday with my local friendly garage, the Superb the day after for an oil change, the Senator the week after, for MOT and whatever that needs and the Cortina the week after for brakes, steering, clutch cable and MOT.

I will then, no doubt, need a long lie down but sometimes you have to say, “fuck it” right?

[danthecapriman]

Sounds a plan if you just want to get them sorted and used.

Its not the best time of year to be laying on your back under a car outside anyway! Far too cold and usually wet for that.

[Wibble]

7 minutes ago, danthecapriman said:

Sounds a plan if you just want to get them sorted and used.

Its not the best time of year to be laying on your back under a car outside anyway! Far too cold and usually wet for that.

Exactly mate. A few years ago, I would never have dreamed of farming some of these jobs out but, I really can’t be arsed now.

[High Jetter]

Maybe 6 month MOT to make warmer fettling?

[AnnoyingPentium]

1 hour ago, Wibble said:

I will then, no doubt, need a long lie down but sometimes you have to say, “fuck it” right?

Especially with how cold it is at this time of the year, it sometimes makes more sense to pay a man in a heated garage to fight seized bolts.

I'm farming out work now too, although I'd rather do it myself... it's Scotland...

[Wibble]

Yep, I used to time MOTs to be in the summer, to make fixing more bearable . I’ll see how I feel next year as to whether I retest them early, to ensure this, or, more likely, still can’t be arsed.

Having said that, @AnnoyingPentium, when I was your age Ryan, I was on my back, in the wet, replacing ball joints on a Cortina, just to get to work in the morning! Seriously though, I do applaud you for keeping old shite on the road🙂

[Wibble]

Made myself put some effort in today. Mojo is low and I’ve had to put my efforts into other tasks this year. Charged up the battery for the Senator overnight and she started first time this morning, as always🙂

I then moved it over a bit and gave it a wash. I haven’t started this car since 23rd December last and, living outside, it was looking pretty green and sorry for itself, so looks better now. This is in preparation for its up and coming MOT. Thought I’d better do it now, as weather is looking grim for next week.

I’d already started the Cortina and run it up to temperature. I’ve been cleaning it up too, using waterless cleaner, as it’s in the garage and I can’t get it out until the Senny is legal. Surprisingly good and leaves a good shine. Will try and do some more tomorrow.

[Wibble]

The Yeti was serviced yesterday with no dramas and I dropped the Superb off this morning.  No problems with that either and I left a tub of roses chocolates and bunged a tenner of unleaded in the courtesy car. Senator is next, fingers crossed🤞

[Wibble]

The Senator is booked in for Tuesday. I’m expecting it to fail on rear brakes. We’ll see but I think everything else is ok. Fingers crossed. Then the Cortina is booked in the week after. Clutch cable and investigate the heavy steering. Is it the UJ or ball joints, we’ll soon find out.

[Wibble]

Tomorrow is Senator day. I’ll drop number one son off at work, before leaving the Senny for its pre-booked MOT. Both places within half a mile and on the same estate, so I feel it’s all above board. Then it’s fingers crossed.

Meeting our former MD and my former senior technician for lunch too. Senior tech has his Mk1 Focus ST170 booked for MOT at the same place, hoping that goes well too, as it’s a nice one:

MOT results decide whether we have a beer or not🤞

[Wibble]

And it’s a fail for me and a surprisingly spectacular fail for him! Not surprised with the Senny failing, I expected that. Main failure being  a rear subframe mounting bush. Good luck finding one, the garage said. Bought 5 minutes later and it’s on the way.

My mates Focus was a shock though. I will admit , I’m bloody relieved I didn’t go with him to look at it when he bought it last month!

The garage stopped counting the cost when they hit £2k and said it’s not worth doing. We’ve  looked and think, if the garage do the welding, we can sort the other problems, so it will get done. This garage don’t just patch over rust either, they cut it all out and let new metal in. They reckon this could be £600, so now it is worth doing and they are also please it’s going to be saved.

[danthecapriman]

36 minutes ago, Wibble said:

And it’s a fail for me and a surprisingly spectacular fail for him! Not surprised with the Senny failing, I expected that. Main failure being  a rear subframe mounting bush. Good luck finding one, the garage said. Bought 5 minutes later and it’s on the way.

My mates Focus was a shock though. I will admit , I’m bloody relieved I didn’t go with him to look at it when he bought it last month!

The garage stopped counting the cost when they hit £2k and said it’s not worth doing. We’ve  looked and think, if the garage do the welding, we can sort the other problems, so it will get done. This garage don’t just patch over rust either, they cut it all out and let new metal in. They reckon this could be £600, so now it is worth doing and they are also please it’s going to be saved.

Not the worst result for your Senny. Nice result getting the part too.

How has the Focus failed so bad though!? It looks a nice one in the photo!

 

[Wibble]

53 minutes ago, danthecapriman said:

Not the worst result for your Senny. Nice result getting the part too.

How has the Focus failed so bad though!? It looks a nice one in the photo!

 

No, could have been far worse for me. It is deteriorating quite quickly living outside though but should get through this time without much drama.

Yes, the Focus was a shock. It’s had a lot of work done by the previous owner, with photos to show and they also asked to link with him on Facebook so they could still see the car. Bizarre but our garage reckon the last MOT was dodgy. It needs drop links, ball joints, welding, exhaust and cat, as this has been removed and I can’t remember what else. Shame, looks inside and out and drives lovely.

Still it will get done and now the Senny has a few nights of luxury, as this garage will not leave customers classics in the yard overnight. It will be brought back inside every night until fixed and gone. I offered to take it away and bring it back but they were happy to hold on to it.

[Wibble]

The bush for the Senny arrived this morning, so I dropped it off at the garage. Wish me luck, he said.

That bush was £30 and the first one on the eBay search. The next couple we’re more expensive and in Lithuania.

Later that day, I looked again and, much further down, was another listing, UK, £1.99! I thought they must be made of chocolate but, out of curiosity I ordered one anyway thinking, if it’s any good, might be best to replace both. Anyway, it arrived this afternoon and seems as good as the £30 one and they sent two! Must be wanting rid. Wish I’d seen these first🤦‍♂️

The Cortina was booked in for Monday but we’ve agreed to wait until the Senny is ready and then swap them over. I’ve told them there’s no rush as I know they’re busy which seemed to be appreciated.

[Wibble]

Looks like we are good to go again🙂

[Wibble]

After the email from the garage confirming the Senator was ready for collection, I fired up the Cortina and headed out to swap them over.

The speedo was being a bit erratic, indicators not functioning and it was pulling hard to the left. This is the first time I’ve driven it this year.

Indicators came back to life, sort of, then there was a really strange noise followed by a “twang”, after which the speedo was just going from zero to fifty, back and forth and making ticking noises. I guess the cable’s made a bid for freedom from the back of the speedometer. Let’s see what the garage have to say tomorrow.