[MJL]

Larry, you are lucky compared to some: try entering Melbourne, Australia to Ludlow, UK.

 

[MJL]

I had a great day out with the MG Car Club today. We drove out to a place in the hills called Upper Beconsfield. The roads were twisty and the day was bright and sunny.
A friend had just bought this MGBGT V8 and had to show it off:

:thumbsup:
I was second to our goal because I had to follow this Mercedes:

He tried to lose me several times but the SLK230 is not that quick.:nod:
I had a delightful time in my little car:

 

[MJL]

Sunny, warm day seemed like the perfect time to take the MX-5 for a drive. So we set off to Watsons Creek. The misty blue mountains were just the perfect backdrop; it looked a bit like Tuscany in Australia:

The Watsons Creek Café and Antique Shop was a treat with old fashioned cupa and saucers...

... and Watsons Creek runs down a valley at the back of the shop.

Great day out... to make up for the fact that I can't join you tomorrow.:cry:
Maybe next year!

 

[MJL]

There was a very quiet afternoon tea in the garden this afternoon:

But the best bit was someone invited himself:

 

[MJL]

I went out this morning to help a friend who had 'neglected' his MX-5. It was more like child neglect than anything I'd seen in years:

But it is much happier now:

 

[MJL]

Finally finished polishing the outside, cleaning the wheels, cleaning and polishing the inside and took my friend's car out side, where it rained!

It looked clean for a minute!

 

[MJL]

A friend and I spent our last Sunday morning cleaning his '98 model.

So now, sadly, it is ready to sell.:cry:

 

[MJL]

Today was a perfect Autumn day; sunny, warm with a gentle breeze so I took the MX-5 out for a spin. I saw a Russian Orthodox church and thought it would be an ideal backdrop and popped in:

Unfortunately, that didin't quite work but the view from the other side was fine!

(The seat covers are a mistake, I admit it, but they save the seats from the sun and me!)

 

[MJL]

This morning it was off with the local car club. It was warm but threatened showers all morning.

As you can see this included two MGBGT V8s::rolleyes:

One of the MGBGT V8s actually beat me to lunch... but only one. See!:smug:

Believe it or not the black TD 2000 was made in the same year (1989) as my 5! The MGBGT V8, the TD 2000 and I had fun... being very responsible drivers, of course. :nod:
I had a really wonderful day, a great drive and wonderful company.:thumbsup:

 

[MJL]

That`s NO way to talk about the MK that started all this !!!!!!!!!!

We should try to avoid starting the Mark Wars again: just accept that whatever mark you own is the best.... until you get a Mk 1.

 

[MJL]

Nearly sold my car after meeting my local miserable region :-(
Maybe I should move house

I know exactly how you feel, Stevo, but I go with the local MG Car Club... are there any other sports car clubs in your area?

 

[MJL]

I'm getting the hang of this retirement thing now; got up late, walked the dogs, had a leisurely breakfast, met a friend for tea, went for an eighty kilometre drive in the MX-5, came home, had lunch and am now ready for a nap!

 

[MJL]

Bored waiting for the weather to change so decided to clean the engine bay on my bog standard Arctic.

That is beautiful; great work! I am a great fan of Mazda's engineering so 'bog standard' is my preferred style.:nod:

 

[MJL]

I went slot car racing to try and keep the grey cells from dying of boredom. It was good, close, fast racing,too.

 

[MJL]

Yellow Ben!!!! Yellow Wanna do mine?

Ben, what have you got yourself into?:wub:

 

[MJL]

Good age 59 BigKev

Fantastic age, 59; except for the aches and pains, general slowing down, hair falling out, inability to pass a toilet and sudden desire for afternoon naps!

 

[MJL]

Today was fine, sunny with an expected top of 22 degrees centigrade so I had to go for a drive.

We went up the Mountain Highway again and on to Olinda but we had morning tea in Sassafrass.

We tried out a new café; the Café de Beaumarchais:

Then across the road to the garden centre.
It was warm and sunny and charming.

 

[MJL]

Adjustable spanners - the devil's tools. Confiscated by our Safety Officer at Fords when I worked there!

Just like my father! He always insisted on the correct tool for the job. In his garage he had BSF, Whitworth, metric (old [for his MG TC's XPAG crankcase] and new), BA, SAE and all sorts of unique spanners for plugs and things. I have hung on to many of the most unusual ones out of sentiment. There is something about old tools!

 

[MJL]

Stayed behind at work to machine polish my MX-5 again. I concentrated on the top of wings and front bumper. Although the front bumper has improved a little, I feel the only solution is a re-spray.

Ben, having had a very thorough and expensive respray on my car, I would urge you to keep the original paint and just attend to maintaining what you have. It looks great. I know the problems of the bumpers. I used an Autoglym two polish programme to keep them almost shiny. The respray fixed the bumpers and chips but also seems to have reduced my car's personality.

 

[MJL]

My experience is that even a re-spray is only a temporary solution to the bumper problem. Mine now has a few areas of crazing! Keep polishing.