A Bit of a Drip

I was awoken on Wednesday at 10am by my phone. 10am would be a bit of a lie in for many, especially those with children. If you had finished work at 7am, got to bed at 8am and fallen asleep at 9am, it would seem less of a lie in. I was a little groggy to say the least. It was Jo reporting that there was a serious issue with the car. She wanted the number for Green Flag. I drove out towards Portesham (yeah, funny that eh, the Portesham road....) and surprised Mike. He was fully expecting to be collecting Jezebel.
So, the Golf is off the road for a week. The part for the Golf should cost more than our entire van is worth and will take a week to fix. So, Jezebel is the only vehicle available in the household. Jo isn't impressed, she isn't a great fan of driving Jezebel. Her fault though, she broke the Golf.
At least Jezebel is running well at present. Well, I say she is running well. She is, as always, having some issues. The battery just doesn't seem to have much life in it. Even when it's been charging for a while, it doesn't seem to retain much charge and she frequently struggles to start. The new leisure battery is proving quite useful for jump starting, which I really shouldn't be doing. The latest suggestion is that the alternator is knackered. The stereo jumps a lot. Luckily I have a new one to slot in and wire up sometime soon. The fridge (which has an unnerving habit of leaving it's slot in the back of the van and travelling around the slippery tiled floor like a white dalek) really needs to be attached properly and more importantly, the trip switch needs a firm talking to. I will need cold beer in Europe. That is not negotiable, it's the law! The exhaust pipe is still 9 inches short of what it should be, however the missing piece is on the back seat and if I'm lucky, Chris will be attaching it tomorrow, when he also looks at why the van is leaking fluids once more. Judging by the strong smell of petrol and the appalling fuel economy, I'm guessing that the puddle marks on our driveway could well be petrol. The drips from under the engine area seem to confirm it. They are only at one end of the driveway, suggesting it is only an issue when she is parked up a slope. Fuel tank at the front, engine at the back, sort of makes sense.
Last Monday was supposed to be the first camping trip of the season. Weymouth playing at Bashley in the New Forest. Vying for a space in the play offs and a Bank Holiday local derby. A few beers, scenic location and a night in the van was on the cards. A few minor issues put a spanner in the works though. The chilly weather for a start. Jo found a gymkhana on that day, the powers that be offered me some overtime and Weymouth had been playing abysmally lately. The play offs were rapidly dropping off the radar. So, with all that in mind, the camping trip to the New Forest went down the pan. A bit like Weymouth's play off chances. They lost.
And so, news from other teams. Team 6 have an illuminated spice rack. What the hell is all that about ? I can only assume it is in case one of them urgently needs some cumin or some saffron in the middle of the night and doesn't want to wake the other up. Jeez....
Team 27 and Olly are gearing up for the big day. Team 'Soon-to-be-Wed' have been cleaning Olly up, hopefully ready for stickers, graphics, a renovated interior and of course to take them to and from the church at the end of the month.
Team 23, the Mowlam Mob have ventured on to the continent for a trip to France and to test the wagon out.
Team 38 (that's us!) despite the numerous issues to resolve, have been busy with Lucas varnishing units installed by Jim, sorting out electrics, carpetting the roof interior and generally making the inside of the van more habitable. Road test tomorrow as we are off camping in Somerset with Team 6 and the spice rack.
Team 12 has possibly gained a new member, a part of the old (but sadly now defunct) Team 17. Sarah has given up the idea of a motorbike, in exchange for the luminous pink mobile brothel or Westmancott's funeral parlour, depending on whether you are seeing it from the inside or outside. I still can't decide if that van is a head turner or stomach turner.