Up just before 7.00am due to the dog having an 'accident' resulting in all the bedding having to be stripped and washed...not the way I like to be woken up on a Sunday!
I on off on a 'Drive It' day (one day a year when all historic and vintage vehicle owners are encouraged to drive their cars and show them off) drive with my car club.
I set off at about 9.20am and was worried that I wouldn't get to the meeting place in time...but as it turns out I needn't have worried because I did arrive in time and many others arrived after me...phew!
We drove in a convoy of about 20 or so cars (and one camper van) but as the journey progressed we lost sight of many of them. Then the car I was following started throwing out white plumes from it's bonnet...it pulled over and I pulled over with it to see if I could help (well, more offering moral support as those who know me know I am no mechanic). Turns out it was steam as the radiator hose had split and sent water spurting all over the hot engine...so not as scary as it looked, luckily.
A lady came out of one of the nearby houses and let the driver have tape (first parcel, then she found some electrical tape) which he used to make a temporary fix, and water to fill the depleted radiator back up. The driver's wife was a bit shaken up...not surprising, if it had been me I would have completely freaked out, even a little steam from the bonnet on a cold morning worries me.
Anyway, fix done we were on our way again...a mini convoy of two as everyone else had gone on.
During the drive I kept glancing nervously at the temperature gauge...paranoid that the car was going to over heat, but it didn't and George (my car) performed well and gave me no problems, apart from the seat belt...
We had pulled over again so the driver of the radiator hose incident car (a 1300 Austin) could check the water levels and top up again, and in doing so we had pulled half onto the pavement. I took my seat belt off to ask if all was ok, and then found I couldn't pull it out again....finally with many, many tiny gentle tugs we (because I asked Tommy the over driver to help in case it was a 'knack' thing) had enough belt out to enable me to fasten up (how I wished my waist was smaller at that moment!) and we were off again.
Turns out the seat belt was because the car was at an angle due to two wheels being up on the pavement...I felt a bit silly as I hadn't realised that could happen, but will remember in future.
Gizmo was my co-pilot throughout and behaved quite well...although he did on occasion start whining a bit...which made me get even more stressed than I might have been (did I mention me watching the temperature gauge like a hawk??). But all in all he was good, even when I undid his seatbelt (it goes through a harness he wears) as he had tangled it...and the car we were following pulled off faster than I thought it would, meaning I followed it with Gizmo unfastened. Luckily we stopped again for another check fairly soon so I could fasten him back up...otherwise he would have succeeded in getting on my lap as that seemed to be his goal!
We got to the meeting place where we were to have bacon butties and tea...sadly as we were late there wasn't much left. I ended up having half a sausage in a somewhat crumbly half roll and no tea (as the hot water had run out at the time...though they refilled later), a little disappointing really.
I hadn't had breakfast as I knew (thought) the bacon butty would be coming...so on the drive home my tummy was grumbling a little.
Back home for 3.15pm.
Cup of tea and two biscuits on my return home, then pottered about for a bit...did washing up from the previous day (serves me right for not doing then I guess) took Gizmo round for a well earned walk.
I have run a Lush bubble bath which I will be going in very shortly, but I thought I should write this first so I don't forget to do it...and I am including what I'll be eating later.
Supper - 7.30ish - BBQ rib in bread roll, coleslaw, beetroot, tomatoes and onion.
Small meringue shell with berries, natural yoghurt and ice cream (blackcurrant or strawberry...not sure which yet...perhaps a little of both).
So a nice day, although somewhat stressful. It has made me realise that although I love my car I don't actually enjoy driving that much. For me my George is a way to get from A to B economically, and with a certain amount of style of course...but I won't be doing many such fun runs in the future.
Now if you will excuse me, my bath awaits! :-D
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