Smooth as a Velvet Codpiece....

Well, that was a new feeling. Something I had never imagined could be so good, so velvety and gentle. So smooth, like mink trousers. With a gentle whisper, like a light breeze through tree branches, we glided away. Amazing. Changing up to second and then third gear was even better. Was this really the pile of rusty crap that I had purchased about a year ago ? What a difference a new clutch makes.

Chris Scard had come up trumps again. Clutch fitted (would you believe I just happened to have a brand new VW T25 clutch assembly set in the lounge?), MOT completed successfully, all for £50 cash. Alright, I had to buy a gallon of petrol as I had only left him enough to get half way across his yard, but still, excellent value and I do owe Chris a big, big favour or two.
The interior is still in need of completing, it's just finding the time, the energy and the step father to complete these things. It is habitable, but needs some finesse. And gas. And work tops. With Weymouth FC on such a great run of results at present, I believe I have persuaded Mrs Spooky to come away with me to Totton next week for the Southern League fixture and a romantic night of winter camping in the New Forest to test the insulation. For the first time ever, I'm confident of the old girl making it (famous last words...). That's the van, not Mrs Spooky.
So, away from Jezebel for a moment. The Dorset Echo published a further article on the Windy 500. A few errors in the detail but on the whole it gave a reasonable impression of what we are up to next summer. It led to some positive responses and a few new teams expressing interest in joining up. Chris and Steve managed to cement their space as Team 23 within about 2 weeks, despite Christmas. Jo, Nigel and Aisha look like they will also be fully signed up and enrolled as Team 22 very soon too.
Team Trauma, our band of merry medics and estate agents hosted a Christmas gathering in Preston and plied me with numerous hot dogs, mulled wine and mince pies before testing my blood pressure. They are still in negotiations over which variety of ambulance they will be taking and where and with whom it will end up at the end of the trip.
The bane of my life for the last 14 months, Team Nightmare as they are now dubbed, finally, finally completed their payment of the deposit to cement their space. Of the 7 original participants, only one, Phil, is left. The 'Jolly boys outing of old gits' has now become an evenly balanced team of relatively younger folk. I fully expect them to still be filling in their paperwork as we head out of Weymouth next June, though I shall be hassling them, as I have done for many, many months. With 5 team members booked in, only today they became 6. Vicky, only just back in the country after a year of travelling the Far East, now fancies a bit of European mystery tour.
On a less positive note, the Pilgrim Bandits are still struggling to organise a team. Alas, the event coincides with a similar event that they are running involving vintage motorbikes and a road trip around Britain. Perhaps we shall persuade them abroad next time around.
Onwards and upwards. 5 months and 10 days to go. Still a bit concerned about whether our leaving party venue may have been flattened by June, but I believe I have a secondary target lined up if necessary. The home of English football no less..... Watch this space.