Childminding tomorrow and with the kids being on holiday we'll be bringing them back here to our house to give them a bit of a change from their home. Just remembered too that the car is very low on fuel so went to the petrol station to fill up and took my lawnmower can too. I'd just finished filling the can when a car pulled up at the pump sharing mine and as I was screwing the cap back on my can there was an absolutely foul mouthed string of expletives drifted over from the chap who had just pulled up. I cautiously poked my head round the pump where I could clearly see he'd snapped his key off in the petrol cap which was still attached to the vehicle.

I quietly withdrew back to my side of the pump island, filled up the Ibiza and went to pay my bill. On returning to the car he was "doing something", rather violently, with a screwdriver, apparently without success. I've had some "interesting" adventures trying to get broken fuel caps off and, as he seemed very cross, I though he was best left alone. Wonder if he's still trying?

Pugglt Auld Jock said:

... I could clearly see he'd snapped his key off in the petrol cap which was still attached to the vehicle.

Click to expand...

Reminds me of a time, when on a business trip with a colleague, we'd stopped at a motorway services for fuel. As colleague was filling his car, a grey import Honda Legend Coupe arrived ahead to my left. Rear window was filled with duvet, so presumably the two lads had travelled some distance the day before and slept in the car. At the time there was an importer of Japanese market cars based in Bristol, and I estimated that we were probably a tankful away from there for these guys.

Then comes the fun, how to open the filler flap. On eighties Japanese cars there is usually a lever to pull somewhere, but placement varied a lot, beside the driver's seat, in the door shut, on the fascia to teh right of the steering column, sometimes on the centre console, and occasionally, inside the boot. Of course it could be a lever, or just a button for an electronic release.
All controls of course may be marked with the internationally recognised symbols, or could be using Japanese graphics. Any handbook, if present would of course be in Japanese. So they scrabbled about, head scratching, then the tone developed into mild panic. Driver went into the kiosk to ask the poor girl behind the till. (I suppose there was a million to one chance she might know?) Of course she had no clue, her expression suggested didn't care. Then as he emerged from the kiosk, he noticed the puddle under the car, where the aircon had tiddled, like they do. Not knowing the significance of the puddle, I think at that time his world fell apart.

Any sympathy felt - No.
Assistance offered - No.

As one who rents a different car on a weekly basis due to business travels, I do sympathize somewhat.

The agonizing over the a/c dribble would have brought a laugh, though.

Queuing in town earlier, there was a BMW 1-series behind me. In the windscreen was a blind.
There are blinds available that attach to windows with suckers, usually fitted to rear side windows to shield occupants from direct sunlight, fitted at the top and the blind is pulled down.
This one however, was fitted vertically at the passenger side edge, so that it could be pulled across the screen towards the centre, presumably to shield the front seat passenger.
Visibility to the nearside woudl be severely impaired while the blind was pulled across. How could anyone think this was a good idea?

pb just reminded me my first car E TYPE (1939 morris 8 had a blind in the rear window. very useful . had a notice on it (DONT LAUGH MRS YOUR DAUGHTER MITE BE IN THE BACK)

We’ve only had it 3 and a half years but the cold weather taught us something new about the Mini Countryman this morning when my wife tried to head off to work, that is, if the tyre pressures are low it limits the speed of the car.

Clearly over yesterday and last night the sudden change in temperature had a knock on effect on the tyre pressures as this morning they where all showing at 1.7bar and the car wanted 2.4bar so a big warning appeared on the screen saying the car was limited to 80kph.

Not a problem something that was fixed in 10 mins with the compressor from the boot of the Punto and while I did the tyres my wife defrosted the frozen screen washer jets. Hopefully she’ll not be too late but not something I needed at 7 am on a day off when it’s minus 1 outside.

for the 4th time in 5weeks google has cut off my email account. says need a code to get it back fine but have to walk 1/2mile up a hill to GET A SIGNAL on the mobile phone (no signal) at 75 this is getting a bit much. any ideas please need something easy with no hassle

mowermender70 said:

for the 4th time in 5weeks google has cut off my email account. says need a code to get it back fine but have to walk 1/2mile up a hill to GET A SIGNAL on the mobile phone (no signal) at 75 this is getting a bit much. any ideas please need something easy with no hassle

Click to expand...

Set up a 2nd non-google email account, have the codes sent there instead of to your phone

Eklipze3k said:

Set up a 2nd non-google email account, have the codes sent there instead of to your phone

Click to expand...

Try Yahoo.co.uk

Once again, binman missed our waste food bin.
Four bins in a row, mine and neighbour's, food, recycling, recycling, food. Man walks down the hill, stops, empties neighbour's food bin, then walks on by. Never even looked down. Two houses, two recycling bins, why not expect two food bins?
Not the first time this has happened. Biffa will argue that bin was not out. Will call me a liar, like the last two times. Then I'll hit them with the video!

Nice polite letter from the police telling me I'd been spotted driving the Mazda uninsured...

It is insured...but isn't on the MID. Call to the insurance company it is then.

With my partner being in a wheelchair, getting her into the Panda is a faff, then stowing the chair in the boot, then the reverse when destination reached. Especially so for short journeys.
A Doblo wheelchair vehicle would be better, so have the option of leave her in the chair for short journeys, or in front seat for longer journeys.

The grumpy bit. Can't keep three vehicles, so the Panda would have to go. We've been together 10 years, quite attached to it. Currently procrastinating fiercely.

portland_bill said:

We've been together 10 years, quite attached to ~

Click to expand...

Genuinely thought you where talking about getting rid of your partner for a minute....... option 3?

AndyRKett said:

Genuinely thought you where talking about getting rid of your partner for a minute....... option 3?

Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestion. Might have to ponder that one too.
Panda - or Partner ? Not an easy choice.

StevenRB45 said:

Nice polite letter from the police telling me I'd been spotted driving the Mazda uninsured...

It is insured...but isn't on the MID. Call to the insurance company it is then.

Click to expand...

Still not on MID...chances of it going on over the weekend 0.

Rather annoying as I don't fancy a pull from plod even if my paperwork is in order.

Having said that..it's probably been off MID since February when my renewal was, with lockdown it's not been near any major roads for a quite a while. Letter was dated the first time I took it on a major road for any distance so clearly pinged an ANPR camera at that time.

That's how good the policing is round here...if I'd stayed up in the hills could probably get away with no tax, mot or insurance for months/years.

You're very unlucky to see a police car and if you do it'll be a PCSO or a single crewed Panda car..chances of seeing a traffic car up this way are roughly similar to winning the lottery.

Probably be my luck though to find officer Jobsworth on an outing.

portland_bill said:

Thanks for the suggestion. Might have to ponder that one too.
Panda - or Partner ? Not an easy choice.

Click to expand...

9 hours of thinking time later

Dont get a Peugeot van

2 'Partners' would be too much

varesecrazy said:

9 hours of thinking time later

Dont get a Peugeot van

2 'Partners' would be too much

Click to expand...

Still pondering.

Definitely will not get a Peugeot, otherwise will be a 'grumpy' moment whenever driving it. At least Doblo appears to be mostly Fiat, based I think on a Punto platform, although does use 'Peugeot' door handles, first seen on Ducato/Boxer.

With the lowered floor, there's no spare wheel. That presents a challenge with a wheelchair user on board. I'm thinking remove some rear quarter interior trim and mount one inside, or on the roof if abosolutely necessary, but won't be without one for long. Never had a puncture on the Panda, its space saver is still unused, but have picked up a few with the learner cars, as well as the inevitable kerbing holes of course.

For two days in a row I've been behind cars that smell of dope. Both driven by "yoofs" so I'm probably not mistaken. Todays car had a baby on board sticker in the window. If you care about your kids don't smoke dope and drive!

StevenRB45 said:

Still not on MID...chances of it going on over the weekend 0.

Rather annoying as I don't fancy a pull from plod even if my paperwork is in order.

Having said that..it's probably been off MID since February when my renewal was, with lockdown it's not been near any major roads for a quite a while. Letter was dated the first time I took it on a major road for any distance so clearly pinged an ANPR camera at that time.

That's how good the policing is round here...if I'd stayed up in the hills could probably get away with no tax, mot or insurance for months/years.

You're very unlucky to see a police car and if you do it'll be a PCSO or a single crewed Panda car..chances of seeing a traffic car up this way are roughly similar to winning the lottery.

Probably be my luck though to find officer Jobsworth on an outing.

Click to expand...

And - I got pulled for having no MOT when I was on the way to the test centre. Thank goodness I had an arranged appointment. The car passed. Phew!

Man over the road slapping something with a hammer.

An ineffective hammer blow sounds different to an effective one. No effective noises heard today.