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Called into Lidl last night for tea and breakfast as we are staying in a apartment, Smeg apparently broke his bed frame not sure what he’s was up to 😄

So you want to go on a road trip around Europe for a couple of months. You have 3 vehicles: A nice, comfortable lexus IS200 estate. Mazda bongo campervan with full interior conversion and pop up roof. Westfield that's just passed its IVA after nearly 5 years of building. Let's be honest, despite the lack of heater, questionable weather resistance, and general noisiness, would it ever be anything but the Westfield? Doors and half hood on, my new steering wheel with quick release boss fitted, and a little practical storage added. Found a neat place to mount my jack in the engine bay. Very simply a strap riveted to the panel over the gearbox: I unfortunately didn't realise until after I'd cut chunks out of it that my boot box was for a short range tank, whereas I've got a long range one so I don't currently have a boot box. Only a plastic top which looks like it doesn't come off. This actually works out quite well, because it means I've got a place to secure my tools when road tripping. I made up a little frame from some aluminium box and angle section and riveted it in in front of the fuel tank. This holds an aluminium case which is good for the basic tools. Then my big socket set sits nicely on top of that. Other than fitting number plates when I get some post from the DVLA, the car is ready to go on a big road trip... And go on a big road trip it will. I've been keeping a little quiet about this as I was terrified of anything going wrong, but at this point, I've done everything I can. Pretty much as soon as I have registration plates on the car, I'll be hopping on a ferry to Holland, before driving to Germany, then Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and off down to Eastern Europe for a few weeks before coming back across the Alps at the end of October. The initial plan was for this to be a 3 month trip with me in the westie and my friend in his MX5, but unfortunately my build took longer than I had expected, so I've missed the first leg up through Norway to the Arctic circle. Once I hit the road, I'll be covering some pretty big miles every day to try to catch my friend up in Finland. Once I've got registration plates, it will literally be a case of finding somewhere to get my ride height sorted and wheels aligned, and then I'll be off on the ferry the next day. I'm hoping to get NMS to sort my alignment as they're not that far away from me and know Westfields, but if anyone has any other garage recommendations for alignment around the Midlands/Warwickshire, let me know!

Forgot to add, the ones I've done were half days, too. A full day is way more in-car time! A half day back then felt like a real workout!

Today’s route with another stop at the ring to spectate

Out and about in the peaks today.

So she's 'feeling grumpy'?

Yes she has......... she’s had to put up with tantrum Terry. 🤭🤭😂😂

Last Wednesday on the last day of my holiday just setting of from hotel de France just out side Le Mans

As the title says. Have recently moved to the area and need an MOT soon. Not looking for an 'easy pass' or anything like that. Just a station than understand the regs around a Q Plate! I don't want to be told I need a fog light for instance. Thanks in advance, Steve

No, no , no, not happening, besides it takes 20 minutes to change the harness over 😀 Thinking about it I don't think he has had a drive of it yet this year perhaps I should be a good girl and offer the keys to him....next week of course 😀

If we ever get a photo of Glen in the driving seat it should be the cover of the calendar 😂

They don't give you much information outside of the photos, do they! I don't know what the prices in Northern Ireland are like compare to mainland Britain, but here the prices have definitely been on the up for the last few years, it's also a dealer sold car, so will be at a premium, compared to a privately sold example. It's had the dreaded conversion from flared arches to cycle wings, so the state of the tub along either side at the front needs checking closely, it has some kind of red painted plugs/grommets filling the bolt holes currently, but it also needs checking that the sides aren't physically distorted around the bolt holes - it's not un-uncommon for GRP to sort of creep and move in normal use, so you can end up with the grp around fastenings sort of distorting out towards whatever they're bolted too. It is earlier, Kit style bodywork , not later ZK stuff, so may be a bit thicker and more resilient! Nice engine to have!

Dogger Hurdsfield!

@Paul Hurdsfield took a liking to this young lady who turned up 😍

Who is Mystery and to what do they object?

Suspension wish bone and a drop link below it.

I'm trying to drum up numbers a.s.a.p I'll let you know by next week.

When will you decide if it has to be called off? As per my PM I could do with knowing in time to book a track day instead (no time free to do both sadly)

Hi @thebutler, Try Fengate MOT in Peterborough - http://www.fengatemot.com/about Very friendly and knowledgeable about kit cars. Has done the last couple of MOT's on my car and found them to be very fair

We could meet up on your last day for a run up from the Shields Ferry through Kielder and the borders. Way more fun than the horrible A1 and only adds an hour or so 👍

Sounds like an excellent idea. I am just outside Portsmouth so can meet at the ferry port.

If you link us to the add, we can give better advice.

I’ve done them twice before, and there was a lot of seat time, (those were both just mornings, too.) I’ve no idea how much that worked out to in minutes though.

Well today was brilliant just north of our hotel was a not very well known race track so we went for a butchers 😎 @W Shep 2 laps 😍 @Paul Hurdsfield 2 laps 😍 @Lee Smith 2 laps 😍 @marcusb 2 laps 😍 @Dave (OnliestSmeg) - Manchester AO 0 laps hairdresser car lol @ex member wussed out lol @John Williams - Blyton Organiser 0 laps catching up on Panda sleep wow what a day 😎

Having watched the program there were some interesting facts and suggestions. 02 September 2019 https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/poll-public-distrust-in-dishonest-mps-deepening-since-brexit-vote-1-4995368 ComRes poll---a new low of only 9% of respondents said MPs were trustworthy and honest. The poll also found that just 16 per cent people think MPs put the interests of the UK first, with a mere seven per cent of the view that constituents are their priority. It also shows significant support for imposing penalties on rule-breaking MPs – over four out of five (82 per cent) of those questioned believe that imposing severe penalties on those found guilty of breaking rules on behaviour and standards in public life would improve UK politics. A similarly large majority (80 per cent) of those questioned believe there should be penalties in place for any MP found to be sharing disinformation, such as fake news and false claims. Paxman stated half of MPs had to return money in the expenses scandal and 7, including 2 Lords, were jailed. Also half of all constituency seats never change hands. Paxman suggested 'closing the Lords, using the money to double MPs' salaries. To be an MP you must have had a previous job. Maximum 10 years as an MP.' I would add no other job allowed while an MP. After voting against the Government last night (backing blocking a No Deal Brexit) 21 Conservative MPs have lost the whip and could face deselection for a forthcoming General Election (Brenda from Bristol says "not another one"). Imagine going into a used car dealership and telling the salesperson "my wife says I must not leave without a car (no deal not an option); what can I get for £12k?" Any expectation of not getting ripped off? One MP losing the whip is Ken Clarke who entered the Commons aged 29, served continuously as an MP, and is now aged 79. While experience is good, so is new thinking. I reckon the only way to sort out these beggars is to close the Commons bars and lock them in with no food until they come up with an agreed way forward. Any casualties will be accepted as collateral damage.

SORNED in August, shocking.😂 I've just checked with the DVLA:

So if there are 15 people attending at £299 each how many cars will be available and how much time will each person be guaranteed behind the wheel?

At BMW's HQ in Farnborough... no, I'm not trading it in