The many and various ways I pass the time now has a new addition. Usually it involves drinking coffee whilst sitting at a computer keeping in touch with chums, or sipping wine sitting on our tiny terrace catching the sun, and wondering what else I can do to avoid any cleaning or tidying or putting away of stuff and things that aren't even MINE. And now I am going to type this blog. Provided that doesn't become a chore as well, in which case...


Thursday, 9 May 2013

An Adventure, and a New Toy

The entire little family of Goldenoldenlady, The Husband and The Dog drove over to North Lincolnshire and back yesterday (a round trip of getting on for 500 miles) and we had us a convoy all the way home, me in the lead in the Peugeot 307 (with The Dog and the satnav) and The Husband in my rear mirror following on behind in his new toy, a 1975 MGB Roadster in British Racing Green, which we went to view and collect yesterday from an old chum of his & her husband who wanted to sell it.
The Brand-New Owners of a 38-year-old-car, photograph courtesy of The Previous Owners

It needs a little TLC on the bodywork (well, who doesn't, at our sort of age?) and will deserve a complete professional respray eventually, but it is tidy enough, has almsot 12 months' MOT, six months' tax and is a very jolly little runner for a nigh-on 40-year-old car.  The aim is to go out in it on high days and holidays, to the coast etc, when it's dry and sunny and we can pootle along with the top down.  The Husband had the roof folded down all the way back from North Lincs yesterday, a journey of over two hundred miles, and passed through two short showers quite happily.  He got home with such a grin on his face.

The Husband will also join the MG Owners Club, to source spare parts, chat on forums and go to any meet-ups nearby.

He has started referring to it as his "rusty old steed", but he will sort that out quite quickly.  He has done up old cars in the past and knows what's involved.  So he has another retirement project.  As we have decided not to go abroad again while we still have The Dog increasingly his dotage, the MGB is our treat to ourselves to make more of an event of our days out or weekends away.  There is a little seat, more a platform really, behind the two leather seats, for The Dog, who has had a test drive and loves it.  He always prefers to have the back windows open in a car so he can keep cool and hang his head out, now he shan't have to, but if he wants a snooze he can lie full length on the seat and nod off in the shelter and shade of the folded back roof, all safely strapped up in his car harness.

So, quite an eventful day, but a very pleasurable drive.  I drove there and back, so I was behind the wheel of the Peugeot for nine hours (!) but the bossy lady in a box picked us a lovely route (over the Derbyshire Peak District at one point) so it was not a chore.

After his huge adventure going to North Lincs and back in a day, and meeting another grumpy ol' doggie, a border collie called Sally, who is fourteen and normally wary of other canines but accepted him quite happily (she even let him drink from her water bowl, so sweet), and also test-driving (or should that be test-passengering?) the MGB for a few miles, The Dog looks set to snooze away recovering today. I may join him...

Meanwhile The Husband is already out the front twiddling with his new toy. Ah well! At least I know where he is, unlike when he goes out for a bike ride. Must remind him to get an extra set of keys cut for it today, 'cos if he loses the one set we have it'll all end in tears!
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14 comments:

  1. Unknown9 May 2013 at 11:16

    Addendum. Second set of car keys now cut, and attached to my keys. Faulty right indicator fixed. Slightly soft tyre pumped up. Roof up and secure to keep out the Welsh rain. If only it were a more cheerful day I'd be out there taking a portfolio of pictures of The New Baby, as we are now calling her.

    Like any soppy new parents we can't stop admiring her in her cot, but as she is outside the house and our kitchen is at the front we have plenty of opportunities to glance at her and sigh happily. The Husband is STOKED.

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    Replies
    1. Unknown9 May 2013 at 11:27

      Happy, happy Husband!

      Delete
    2. Unknown9 May 2013 at 12:31

      Goldenoldenlady isn't feeling shabby, either, Zoe darling!

      Delete
  2. Yamini MacLean9 May 2013 at 16:19

    Hari OM
    oooooohhh now that's a bit droolable! Just the ticket I'd say. Well done. zzoommm zoooomm zoom. (Settle down YAM...)

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    Replies
    1. Unknown9 May 2013 at 17:43

      It's a very thrummy car with the lid down, and bouncy on rough roads, so a real old-fashioned motorin' experience. We will have our Peugeot 307d for comfort and fuel economy, and keep this for fun and frolics!

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  3. the fly in the web9 May 2013 at 16:42

    I'm not showing my husband this...he used to have an MG and loved it.

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    1. Unknown9 May 2013 at 17:39

      The Husband has had such a tough couple of years, with his dear old Ma having to go into residential care in 2011, along with first the threat and then the reality of redundancy (a year ago) and then the stress of selling up his house, it's been brilliant to see him so happy again, like someone has given him his nuts back.

      Redundancy can be so emasculating for a man who takes pride in his work.

      Delete
  4. Susan Heather9 May 2013 at 21:09

    Look forward to hearing more about The New Baby in the months ahead - well done.

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    1. Unknown10 May 2013 at 09:40

      I am so hoping she doesn't turn into a temperamental toddler, Susan, but there is always that slight risk with an old car. Fortunately The Husband is not without mechanical knowledge and practical ability, so it won't need to go to a garage for every bit of a thing.

      Delete
  5. Kathy10 May 2013 at 11:13

    Gosh, she's a bonny girl and is aging well. At least being a classic car there's no road fund payable which will help towards the spare parts. Shame the weather has turned so dire. :-(

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  6. Unknown10 May 2013 at 15:00

    There is a road fund payable, I believe. In fact as she has an almost 1800cc petrol engine she is a bit on the dear side to tax. It's one of the things we have to check up on, but she is not exempt yet.

    The weather is dire *because* we bought a convertible...it's Sod's Law in action.

    She now has a name. As the first three letters of her registration are LGD and she has been brought to live in Wales, she is our Little Green Dragon; flies along, makes a lot of noise and is slightly scary!

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    Replies
    1. Kathy10 May 2013 at 16:27

      Love the name. :-)) Sadly you're right about the road fund. I hadn't realised the rules had been changed as it's so long since we sold our classic VW camper. According to dear old gov,uk "You don’t have to pay vehicle tax on vehicles made before 1 January 1973 (‘historic vehicles’)." This date will soon be changed to pre-1974, but that's probably still too early for you. :-( In the past it was of course all cars more than 25 years old.

      Delete
    2. Unknown10 May 2013 at 18:17

      Yes, it does seem as though a vehicle has to be easily 40+ to qualify now. Just 2 years to go, then...

      ...never mind, we still love her, and the classic car insurance on limited mileage isn't too alarming.

      She is a hobby, not a car, if that makes any sense, in that we still have the sensible modern option for everyday driving.

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    3. Kathy10 May 2013 at 19:23

      Unfortunately it sounds as though the age limit for exemption isn't automatically updated each year, but is up to the Chancellor to decide:

      http://www.classicandsportscar.com/news/general-classic-car-news/george-osborne-no-rolling-tax-exemption-for-classics

      I know just what you mean by a hobby, though, as that is how we have always seen the ongoing costs of owning another home. It's a price we;'re prepared to pay.

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