......well, when I say home, very nearly! She's currently parked in our neighbours garden 'cos we cannot get her up our driveway! At least not at the moment until we have made her engine run.
We previously discussed the windy500 with Kath and Bill and they suggested we could use their garage to work on our vehicle. Fantastic! Big garage, dry, space to work on our mode of transport. That was before we bought our van, er, limo. When they knew what we buying they were still quite happy for us to use the garage and were both keen to get involved. That's what you call brilliant neighbours and friends. But in order to repair our Limo and get her ready there would have to be some thoughts as to how we would get her in the garage as she is too tall! So first of all we will have to remove a large wooden panel above the doors and raise the garage doors by about a metre so she will fit in. We also have to remove some pipe work, a radiator, two shelves and a couple of cupboards. No problem! And we have to board up a wall or two. Move a few items around and then we should be ready. Easy. Maybe!
So, with that all sorted we then had to work out how to get her back. A quick chat with Steve G, Kath and Bills son resulted in "No problem. I have a mate who can help tow you back". Excellent news. Then we discovered that we could not do that as she is not taxed and that makes it illegal. All four wheels apparently have to be off the ground. I did suggest risking breaking the law by doing it and hoping there would be no police around. But points on a licence, massive fine and knowing a few policeman quite closely we decided better of this idea. "Leave it me" said Steve G. " I'll get back to you" . Within the hour he had organised a trailer and a friend with a Range Rover to bring it back. What a star! Monday evening was the first time this could be done which left us the weekend to trawl more websites, have more discussions.
We awoke on Monday to a beautiful sunny day. This was going to be quite an exciting day. As the day progressed so did a weather front. By about 5pm there were weather warnings around the country, the wind was approaching gale force and it was hammering down with rain. Oh, and it was a 6pm collection so it would be dark as well. Ideal ! A rendezvous with Steve G, his towing friend Graham, the towing company next door and we were nearly ready. Cash handed over for the trailer, connected up and we were off.
We arrived at Heathfield and the wind and rain was getting heavier but she looked beautiful, glistening in the security lights, waiting to be taken away to her new home. I unlocked her and Steve started to winch her on-board. I turned the ignition on and the wipers which amazingly worked. That's something else working! That helped to see where I was going - left hand down, right hand down, straighten up, left hand down, STOP! Never thought about the brakes until this point, but they worked as well. We were on! Strapped down, in gear and hand brake on the journey home began. After grounding the trailer on a steep ramp the journey home was quite straight forward. Apart from aqua-planing on the roads which were by now very treacherous. Graham was following me a we guided back with no hitches along the way.
We parked outside Kath and Bills place and proceeded to block the road while we pushed her off backwards. The brakes worked in reverse as well! Graham drove the trailer away and then I drove her for the first time albeit only free wheeling. With no power steering, or power brakes manoeuvring was going to be interesting. I tried the headlights and Yippee. They worked as well! The list of good bits is getting bigger! With Steve and Sam pushing I negotiated the entrance to the garden hoping she would go in. Only had one chance at it as she is very heavy. So I drew on my previous experience of getting the38bus up and around Crac de Chevalier in Syria. Easy peasy lemon squeezy. She was in the garden. A little bit of final adjustments back and forward and she arrived at her new home. She looked great!
Monday, 12 December 2011
Friday, 9 December 2011
The Key to the future
After yesterday’s excitement, we thought today might seem dull in comparison. We had spent yesterday trawling the internet for ideas on how to fit out our van and competing as to who could come up with the most original ideas. It was like working on the bus all over again. A book on interiors and a DVD on how to do it are on their way.
I woke Jim in good time and as he struggled to remember who he was and who I am, I regaled him with my night time thoughts. What about raising the roof and sleeping up there; had he noticed a spare wheel when we saw the bus; what about a tall cupboard fitted out with baskets; where could we put hanging baskets etc.. etc.
Jim had ideas on kitchens as we ate breakfast. He then went over to see Kath and Bill about using their garage to keep it in and what modifications we might need to make to the garage to be able to use it.
We were due to meet the seller in order to pay him and collect the log book and other paperwork. The van looked just as good in the light as it had in the dark. There were no unexpected areas of rust. The paintwork was still as bad; it did have a spare wheel underneath which surprised the seller as much as us. He even tired to make the engine turn over for us. It made a noise but didnt start but we were excited anyway. Money and paperwork and keys were exchanged while Jim tried to elicit sponsorship deals the boss with some success.
We had the photo shoot; Jim posed with the handbook while I planned curtains and soft furnishings etc. We said goodbye to our new baby and headed off to buy some chicken feed. Then, disaster. Just as we were loading the car Jim discovered that the keys were no longer in his pocket!!
We both searched his pockets, the car, the folder of papers and the car again. Pieces of paper and other bits of rubbish that had been patiently been waiting to be disposed of were tossed about, seats were moved backwards and forwards several times but all to no avail. He kept saying ‘’I’m sure I would have heard them if I had dropped them’. I nearly dropped him on the third time he said it.
We went back to the van. The security cameras triggered and we left a comedy video on them for the entertainment of the company. The keys were not in the locks, the doors were locked, the pile of sand contained no keys neither did the whole compound.
We searched the car and Jim’s pockets again in case a miracle had occurred but no joy. We had been the proud owners for fifteen minutes and now, not only would the engine not start but the doors were locked and we had lost the only set of keys! Could be a bit difficult.
We retraced our steps back to the car park where we had bought the chicken feed. We searched the car park. I think Jim wanted me to crawl under the parked cars in the search but you have to draw the line somewhere. It was now beginning to get dark so we took refuge inside the building. I went to the customer desk and asked ‘has anyone seen any keys?’ The relief was palpable when they said’ yes’. They had been left by the till on the counter where we had been served. No wonder he didn’t hear them drop! He put them there!
We now have a future with our camper again. I am ordering a new set of keys tomorrow!
I woke Jim in good time and as he struggled to remember who he was and who I am, I regaled him with my night time thoughts. What about raising the roof and sleeping up there; had he noticed a spare wheel when we saw the bus; what about a tall cupboard fitted out with baskets; where could we put hanging baskets etc.. etc.
Jim had ideas on kitchens as we ate breakfast. He then went over to see Kath and Bill about using their garage to keep it in and what modifications we might need to make to the garage to be able to use it.
We were due to meet the seller in order to pay him and collect the log book and other paperwork. The van looked just as good in the light as it had in the dark. There were no unexpected areas of rust. The paintwork was still as bad; it did have a spare wheel underneath which surprised the seller as much as us. He even tired to make the engine turn over for us. It made a noise but didnt start but we were excited anyway. Money and paperwork and keys were exchanged while Jim tried to elicit sponsorship deals the boss with some success.
The deal being completed with the compulsory handshake.
We both searched his pockets, the car, the folder of papers and the car again. Pieces of paper and other bits of rubbish that had been patiently been waiting to be disposed of were tossed about, seats were moved backwards and forwards several times but all to no avail. He kept saying ‘’I’m sure I would have heard them if I had dropped them’. I nearly dropped him on the third time he said it.
We went back to the van. The security cameras triggered and we left a comedy video on them for the entertainment of the company. The keys were not in the locks, the doors were locked, the pile of sand contained no keys neither did the whole compound.
We searched the car and Jim’s pockets again in case a miracle had occurred but no joy. We had been the proud owners for fifteen minutes and now, not only would the engine not start but the doors were locked and we had lost the only set of keys! Could be a bit difficult.
We retraced our steps back to the car park where we had bought the chicken feed. We searched the car park. I think Jim wanted me to crawl under the parked cars in the search but you have to draw the line somewhere. It was now beginning to get dark so we took refuge inside the building. I went to the customer desk and asked ‘has anyone seen any keys?’ The relief was palpable when they said’ yes’. They had been left by the till on the counter where we had been served. No wonder he didn’t hear them drop! He put them there!
We now have a future with our camper again. I am ordering a new set of keys tomorrow!
Thursday, 8 December 2011
A leap in the dark
We decided to join the windy500 after a short discussion with spooky. Having been involved in the 38bus project we thought this would be worth a go as his trips are always exciting and differently brilliant.
I started coming up with crazy ideas. I had a 'popup 4 poster bed coming out the back of a vehicle' idea. Rejected!
Then I had 'a dinosaur idea' - a wooden profile of brontosaurus where the tail was attached to a tow ball and would wiggle as we drove through the European countryside. Steps fitted to the tail would lead up to a cocktail terrace on the hump. How would I get the head onto the vehicle and how would we get it on a ferry? Rejected!
We then thought about involving our neighbours as Bill used to renovate and sell triumph spitfires and don't they have soft tops? Now we were getting somewhere that we both thought was possible, and more practical! Apparently they are quite uncomfortable and the idea of a convertible vehicle was starting to sound promising. Very.
The next consideration was an Escort XR3i Cabriolet. Yes! I could see us in that with the windy in our hair. We looked at several and talked to a few people and decided that would be our car. Top down, sunglasses on, 360 view from all seats etc. etc. That was it. Decision made and we had plenty of time to find one and do it up. Buy the clothes to wear.......
Then we had a big change of direction, for which we have to blame spooky. He bought his VW van about two weeks ago and we thought that could be quite an interesting project for him. So we starting looking at what we might be able to do to help him so as we were trawling eBay, amazon and anywhere on-line for information it struck us that with our skills WE might consider a van as well. So about 2 or 3 days ago (6th Dec) we started looking seriously at vans for ourselves. We had to talk to our neighbours Kath and Bill again because they had said we could use their large garage to do any work on our vehicle. And would a van fit in?
Well, we found a vehicle on eBay, a VW T4 Transporter with some customisation started, in Newton Abbot, 15 mins from our house. A discussion with Kath and Bill suggested we would have to remove a one metre panel above the garage doors and then replace it when finished and do something to the garage doors as well. But it was doable.
So we contacted to seller to arrange a viewing of this red van. Neither of us have any mechanical knowledge and the viewing was arranged for 6pm. Oh, and did I mention that the van was a non runner! So there we were in the dark, being unable to to start this red thing, turn the engine over or anything of those things that people always tell you that you must do when looking at any vehicle.
We examined the seats, opened the doors a few times and sat in the seats. The drivers seat would need to be modified as Lucy could not easily reach the pedals. But we liked the colour. I grovelled on the floor pretending to look underneath for something that I didn't know what to look for. Oh yes, rust! But not sure I could find much. Some cow dung and a lot of dead insects but no rust. Lucy asked about paperwork and she saw the MOT certificate, which was current. Good point noted. Some minor faults noted but only advisory. Even some receipts of some of the work that had been undertaken. Good point. I was starting to think this looked very promising. We looked at the engine sat next to the van on a pallet and then we found there was another one under the bonnet. Bad point. But both were broken. And we didn't seem too bothered about! Bad point!
As we walked around this for about 10 minutes viewing it with a torch app on my HTC mobile, we were both getting quite excited about it. So after a quick glance at each other we enquired if he would take an offer. NOW! But he said we had to continue bidding on eBay. And someone else was coming to see it!
So returning to home a bit dejected thinking there would be no chance and telling ourselves there would be others, we began to watch the bidding. We also noticed a J in the registration and an L. Then Lucy also said the letters MWL - My Windy Limo. This seemed too good to be true! So we made a bid and set the alarm for 7.30 am as the auction finished at 8.47. With 10 minutes to go the price stated to go up, surprisingly. We nearly swallowed our dressing gowns as the time was nearly up! With ten seconds to go we made our final bid, fully expecting to be beaten. We pressed refresh a few times just in case. And then it all ended. What had happened? Did we win? Did we lose? LOL LOL LOL We had it. We got it. Amazing! Phew! And all before 9 o'clock. We were now the proud owners of My Windy Limo. And we still don't know if it will ever start!
I started coming up with crazy ideas. I had a 'popup 4 poster bed coming out the back of a vehicle' idea. Rejected!
Then I had 'a dinosaur idea' - a wooden profile of brontosaurus where the tail was attached to a tow ball and would wiggle as we drove through the European countryside. Steps fitted to the tail would lead up to a cocktail terrace on the hump. How would I get the head onto the vehicle and how would we get it on a ferry? Rejected!
We then thought about involving our neighbours as Bill used to renovate and sell triumph spitfires and don't they have soft tops? Now we were getting somewhere that we both thought was possible, and more practical! Apparently they are quite uncomfortable and the idea of a convertible vehicle was starting to sound promising. Very.
The next consideration was an Escort XR3i Cabriolet. Yes! I could see us in that with the windy in our hair. We looked at several and talked to a few people and decided that would be our car. Top down, sunglasses on, 360 view from all seats etc. etc. That was it. Decision made and we had plenty of time to find one and do it up. Buy the clothes to wear.......
Then we had a big change of direction, for which we have to blame spooky. He bought his VW van about two weeks ago and we thought that could be quite an interesting project for him. So we starting looking at what we might be able to do to help him so as we were trawling eBay, amazon and anywhere on-line for information it struck us that with our skills WE might consider a van as well. So about 2 or 3 days ago (6th Dec) we started looking seriously at vans for ourselves. We had to talk to our neighbours Kath and Bill again because they had said we could use their large garage to do any work on our vehicle. And would a van fit in?
Well, we found a vehicle on eBay, a VW T4 Transporter with some customisation started, in Newton Abbot, 15 mins from our house. A discussion with Kath and Bill suggested we would have to remove a one metre panel above the garage doors and then replace it when finished and do something to the garage doors as well. But it was doable.
So we contacted to seller to arrange a viewing of this red van. Neither of us have any mechanical knowledge and the viewing was arranged for 6pm. Oh, and did I mention that the van was a non runner! So there we were in the dark, being unable to to start this red thing, turn the engine over or anything of those things that people always tell you that you must do when looking at any vehicle.
We examined the seats, opened the doors a few times and sat in the seats. The drivers seat would need to be modified as Lucy could not easily reach the pedals. But we liked the colour. I grovelled on the floor pretending to look underneath for something that I didn't know what to look for. Oh yes, rust! But not sure I could find much. Some cow dung and a lot of dead insects but no rust. Lucy asked about paperwork and she saw the MOT certificate, which was current. Good point noted. Some minor faults noted but only advisory. Even some receipts of some of the work that had been undertaken. Good point. I was starting to think this looked very promising. We looked at the engine sat next to the van on a pallet and then we found there was another one under the bonnet. Bad point. But both were broken. And we didn't seem too bothered about! Bad point!
As we walked around this for about 10 minutes viewing it with a torch app on my HTC mobile, we were both getting quite excited about it. So after a quick glance at each other we enquired if he would take an offer. NOW! But he said we had to continue bidding on eBay. And someone else was coming to see it!
So returning to home a bit dejected thinking there would be no chance and telling ourselves there would be others, we began to watch the bidding. We also noticed a J in the registration and an L. Then Lucy also said the letters MWL - My Windy Limo. This seemed too good to be true! So we made a bid and set the alarm for 7.30 am as the auction finished at 8.47. With 10 minutes to go the price stated to go up, surprisingly. We nearly swallowed our dressing gowns as the time was nearly up! With ten seconds to go we made our final bid, fully expecting to be beaten. We pressed refresh a few times just in case. And then it all ended. What had happened? Did we win? Did we lose? LOL LOL LOL We had it. We got it. Amazing! Phew! And all before 9 o'clock. We were now the proud owners of My Windy Limo. And we still don't know if it will ever start!
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