Super sunny days

There are some special things about being a shift worker.

1, I often go to bed when others are getting up to go to work, particularly lovely on a wet winter morning....It's the most amazing feeling!

2, I generally get a few days off in a row meaning you actually have a bit of time to do things plus I can get away with taking a few days off to get a couple of weeks away!

3 (and probably my favourite!) I can do things during the week when most people are working which means places are quieter.  This is a bonus when you're going shopping or need to do routine chores but mostly everywhere is so much quieter so visiting the beach or the New Forest is amazing!

So today I did number 3 and caught up with a very dear friend and her 2 lovely doggies.....I think the pictures say it better than I ever could in words.

(Note newly powder coated steel wheels with self spray painted centre caps!)

Another tip....get a friend who owns a tea shop, picnic in the New Forest post beach walk was amazing, even if the dogs did knock over the table spilling our tea!

Delayed postings.....33 months later!

So I've not checked in for nearly 3 years! Wow! I shall vow to write more regularly. Let's start with an update.....

We left off at the point where things that had gone wrong were getting worse. Turns out the oil pump wasn't genuine and my mechanic thinks it may have been fitted before! So I managed to argue the point and get a new genuine one from tps and get the engine company to pay for it. It was fitted and we got the marmite van back on the road.

I managed a 5 day break with my friends, who have a split screen, to North Devon. On starting to head back south I started smelling a melty wire smell and promptly had to stop right in the middle of Exeter.  Turns out one of my radiator fans had seized up.....fire brigade, who I called in a panic, hosed it down.  We managed to get into a petrol station down the road where my friend's husband disconnected the one broken fan, so I could continue rather than calling the Rac, whilst I had a mini meltdown over the fact I'd not increased the agreed value post engine fitting! It then took ages to get to the next campsite where I continued the meltdown before we got some food and chilled out.

Finally we got to a perfect site and we wandered down the most beautiful beach. I left them to it and went back to the van for a chill out as I was knackered!

So another part to source and replace!

That wasn't the end for 2013!  The mechanic had left the engine undertray off as he would need to do an oil and filter change and it was a pain to get on and off.  I then hit a huge pot hole whilst out with the vw club (more about them later) and broke the oil pump!

I then went on to replace starter motor, alternator, battery, glow plugs, fuel pump.....plus lots more! Having the fuel pump and timing done properly means I can now drive up hills without too much struggling, amazing difference!

So finally here we are in 2016, most of the mechanics, suspension and steering bits have been replaced and he appears to be a bit more reliable......fingers crossed!

Dragging on.....

Having taken him off the road again to solve the oil burning/coolant loss issues I have, with the help of a mechanic, put this

 

shiny reconditioned engine

 

 

into this

 

 

 

Big gaping hole!

 

 

What a nightmare that was!  Anyway....all was going well, engine turning over nicely until bottom crankshaft pulley was added then it didn't move at all (insert lots of interesting expletives!).

 

So having now tried the engine buliders suggestion of putting a shim on, trying 2 different sprockets and discovering there is only one pulley the mechanic is thinking the van may have to go, with the engine, to the engine builders for them to see if they can sort the problem!!  I am clearly meant to have so many issues that I will either love him or hate him by the end of this process!

 

One more option to try....is it the wrong oil pump??  I shall update with the news soon, fingers crossed!!

 

 

A little bit of girlish stuff (makes a nice change!)

So I need to do some catching up, firstly all the good stuff today....

I have purchased some eatery equipment

Dinky cute little salt & pepper courtesy of John Lewis....

 Bowls & plates also from aforementioned store, it seems a colour theme is forming!

Then a 'quick' visit to Ikea got these cups (for obvious wine & beer drinking!) & teeny tiny chopping board.......I say 'quick' visit as I think that's an almost impossible thing to achieve, as Ikea has so many distractions.......is it me or is it also impossible to visit and not spend any money???

I then had a disastrous attempt at blanket dyeing which clearly didn't turn out anything like the colour on the boxes!  Presumably they are a polycotton mix........

So.....that's all the exciting girly stuff for now, back to the boring stuff next time!

More problems afoot!

So.....here I go again (to steal a few words from whitesnake feels like I'm on my own!)......

So having fixed the many leaks, including having the fuel pump semi overhauled, the van with no name is now burning oil! Feels like I've been a little ripped off right now :(

However, I have made the decision he is mine now, therefore I shall be spending the necessary pennies to get him up together.  I believe someone needs to take him in hand & get him sorted once & for all!  I'm also under no illusion about how much he will need spending on him.

Decisions, decisions though.....do I go with a recon engine or overhaul the one he has (which by the way isn't the original anyway)...it's a dilemma.  My friendly mechanic will do whatever I want, but I'm thinking maybe go for an engine & just start from scratch?

On a lighter note I have purchased some items for him & shall post pics soon :)

Off the road again!!

Soooo.....after a very brief 12 days on the road we are car park bound! Bit of a nightmare....but a story behind it as usual. Whilst he was off the road (the first time!) We took the spare wheel off to check it was ok & fitted, fine so far. Then found it very difficult to get it back on. Whilst at work one day I asked the very lovely mechanics if they could help me get it back to its rightful place, which they kindly did. We happened to notice a water leak (yeah right eh? Not another!). Easily fixed by tightening up the screw on the jubilee clip. Upon starting him up another leak became apparent (maybe sieve or leaky would be an appropriate name?). On investigating it was found to be coming from the housing going into the head, we looked at each other & both used a few choice words! Anyway temporary repair to get him home & another physical to the poor mechanic helping me get him sorted! Watch this space.......

In other news...look what arrived! Something nice to do for a change, curtain track yay!

Back on The Road!

So after not realising that I hadn't actually posted my last one I look like I've been very busy today!

My baby is back on the road! Woohoo! Having said that, before we all get too excited, he now has a leak from the fuel pump.  So after having a little jaunt down to Poole this morning to see the sunroof man (yes, that too is leaking!), I popped to see a fuel pump company who have tentatively suggested it might hopefully be a straight forward job which can be done in situ....Obviously this depends what he finds when he starts taking the pump apart! 

I am thinking positively though especially after having to do a lot more to the engine than originally planned plus the drive shaft centre bearing, which wasn't cheap, I am feeling a corner has hopefully been turned and things will be simple and straight forward.

I have someone checking the electrics and putting in a leisure battery over the next couple of weeks.  I have also ordered the curtain track, hools, tape etc. and have decided to use material which came from my Grandad's flat when we cleared it several years ago. 

 

So the material is a shiny nylon type fabric, bit odd but it looks great in the van.  It's almost like it was meant to be...I've kept this fabric as I knew I would find a use for it one day, Grandad would be proud and I think it's nice that there is a little memory of him going into the van.  Can't wait to do something nice for him instead of the constant stuff which needs doing....still haven't got a name, definately male...maybe he should be called Wally after Grandad?  Although I'm still considering jeffie, due to his reg no!