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Yes we definitely need the "first meeting" photo 😀 Again, I have to say what a brilliant job everyone involved has done 😀
I'd better get the DVD players in the post then! lol 😀
Kids back at school this morning after a very long and very stressful half term. Took the opportunity this morning while little one was at nursery to fettle. Tunes loud, bike and tools out and ready to go.
Stiffee all ready to go and meet Ambrose tomorrow. Conti traffics on instead of the vertical pros, flat pedals instead of my spds and after finally finding my chain lube, chain cleaned and lubed.
As long as the weather is OK tomorrow I won't wimp out and catch the train. It will be my first proper ride in over a year. 15 miles apparently, and an extra 4 or 5 stone to carry too. Really looking forward to it though. While it won't be the fastest ride, I hope it will be a really fun bimble. Might leave early and have a mess around at Pembrey too.
There's nothing better than fettling your Stiffee when you're home alone (sorry, wrong thread!).
Enjoy your ride and enjoy your new car.
WHY DON'T WE HAVE A "LIKE" BUTTON!!
I think we might need to get the poor man some new bike tyres too. Vert Pros in this day and age!
Are there enough funds in the pot for the car. I get paid tomorrow so there is the possibility of a couple of quid going spare. (There would have been more but some scumbag broke into the man-cave while we were in Vienna two weeks ago and funds may be tighter than expected).
I think we might need to get the poor man some new bike tyres too
I've got some! I'll get some grapes, ride with them to TJ's house, swap the tyres to his bike, he can cycle to SaxonRider's hospital bed and give him the grapes, pass the tyres to Ambrose... etc! It'll work I tell ya!
So what would this epic journey be called?
Monday night update.
Tomorrow is THE DAY. After weeks of teasing, p155-taking, tom-foolery and banter, pie-based shenanigans and solitary cider drinking, rust proofing and rewiring, insurance, MOTs and child-minding the plan is to unite the gnusmobile with the gnusmeister.
AFAIK all is set, all is planned and nothing can go wrong.
Alan will cycle to meet me at the end of my working day. His bike into the back of my car, in amongst the bags of leaves and other garden recycling. Off to Llanelli recycling center we will go to do our bit for the environment by contributing a load of stuff to the local composting scheme.
The M4 is about 10 mins away- we hope to be in Cardiff before 5:00PM for the main event.
Then a mini-convoy, via Greggs, back to Carmarthenshire. It's going to be a good day 🙂
Embarrassed to say it'll need petrol, as I didn't get round to filling up and forgot.
Probably 1/4 tank tho.
Oh and, there's a loud rattle coming from the passenger door. Marko may be the pro but, due to my obsessive and hypersensitive psychological makeup, if you want a rattle traced and fixed, I'm your man.
The rattle is the plastic insert in the door handle. There's a screw at the bottom that needs tightening. Like the petrol I forgot until now and it's too late to fix, but it'll be easy. I stuffed a bit of paper in it to keep it quiet on the way home.
We'll get it sorted, dim probs.
Thread of the year.
Also I noticed that the steering wheel's not straight, this might mean that the tracking is out. I didn't have time to drop it in either, but if there's enough money left in the kitty it might be worth a check.
TTIUWOP
Probably 1/4 tank tho.
It's tiny, that's about three pints.
Well my cycling idea has been shelved. My friend has an appointment at 1:00 so she will be having the little one from about 2:00 ish. So train it is, but it is still happening. At least my Stiffee is ready to ride another day.
It’s tiny, that’s about three pints.
200 miles with Yaris mpg? 😉
I got 49mpg albeit with a downhill start.
Not bad at all, we were only averaging about 40, but it is quite hilly around here and I think the odd foray into Edinburgh was bringing that down quite a lot.
The Mrs regularly gets 43 - 45 mpg out of the 2003 Yaris. That's around town and on country lanes.
Great little motors.
molgrips - step away from the spanners!
On the train making my way to meet Ambrose 😁 its happening people, it's happening.
Stuck in major traffic jams on the m4 near Swansea. And it's chucking it down. Don't think we will be there by 5:00, but we will be there.
👍
God speed 👏
I reckon we average 50 mpg on our 1.0 2003 yaris. Mixture of town and a bit of motorway. We do a bit of m6 drafting between the hgv s. Never missed a beat in 16 years and no advisories, they only sell for 1k tops, brilliant little cars. Well done finding this one a good home.
😁
There must be a fair few STW'ers sitting at their keyboards chewing their nails awaiting a pic of Gnusmas and his new car - I've got to say, its quite emotional!
Done it!
Any guesses who has just arrived at Greggs, Cardiff West services on the M4?
Needs a facebook livestream!
Woot!
TJ, please PM me your phone number now!
TJ and Al just had a chat. Brilliant.
Made me feel all funny - talking to a real person.
*hides behind keyboard*
Yay!
We want pictures!
Yippee!!!!! Fantastic story, wonder when the film comes out? 😀
Any guesses who has just arrived at Greggs, Cardiff West services on the M4
Binners?
Got home at 8:30. Kids not long been dropped off so will sort the photos out and update once they are all settling down.
The gnusmobile is home 😊
👍
👌
No pressure......
Does he not know how important we are?
Does anyone want 4 kids so I can get this done? I'm sure their on a wind up coz they know I got things i need to do
It's taken you this long to realise this? Mine were born into opposition....
Are you kidding? I’ve got stuff from 20 years ago I haven’t done due to mine
Realised it a while ago, just notice it more at certain times. I have now banished them all so will get on with it..........
Stop being such a moaner. We need to know what happened!
But but but but but but you were there Ambrose.
Ooops, rumbled.
Right, here goes. Just a quick photo to make sure it works. Cant get it to upload photos, what photo host should i use?
Cool story, best thing on STW by (s)miles.
Well done all, truly well done.
👍👍👍
If you get stuck with pictures - email 'em to me.
Just messaged you TJ, didn't see your reply before sending, sorry roger_mellie
Woop woop, I posted a pic on the new forum!
Still can't work out the photos so put the link of each photo in. Hopefully this way will work.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/XMT9iU5BjjcwB2aL8
crossing the bridge to the train station to catch the 14.05 train to Burry Port
https://photos.app.goo.gl/a6F3sxtDL8ApbVmr5
on the train, pretty obvious but thought i would clarify
https://photos.app.goo.gl/wtSCZxrtBfZ3cBCZ7
arrived in Burry Port at 14.23
https://photos.app.goo.gl/MGHGChCxFt79oSSR7
met up with Ambrose at the school where he works, gave me tea in a stupid little cup and physically made a pupil take this photo. he seems so nice too
https://photos.app.goo.gl/RNrWZYbGDij6HLFV9
on our way to Cardiff, in the rain, after visiting the recycling centre to drop off a shed load of leaves
https://photos.app.goo.gl/xhTtiWidip1nL8eL8
still on the way and now its getting dark
https://photos.app.goo.gl/zThGb4c8TMxmZSYw7
got to molgrips house at 5.30ish. cheesy 2 thumbs up photo with the gnusmobile for cougar before he deletes everyones accounts like he said he would
https://photos.app.goo.gl/bWctdVshpBKfpCFSA
i really look dodgy here
https://photos.app.goo.gl/dksEtdGrU9odDXZT7
i think this was to make sure i fitted into it
https://photos.app.goo.gl/mLBcMhndNmFfdMrE9
it lives
https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZokRGJ8p3h6niBWs9
i am honestly trying to work out how to put the window down, finally worked it out
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Zsj6HWQCeuHYfNKT7
another cheesy 2 thumbs up for cougar, just to make sure
https://photos.app.goo.gl/K9G8qyAx8yd8HLb89
someone left evidence behind...........
https://photos.app.goo.gl/xDPWpb9uvJvwaxr29
stopped for greggs on the way home. apparently binners had beaten us to it and they had nothing left
Well that's just downright bloody awesome
Do the links work OK then? Been refreshing like a fool waiting for someone to comment so I can try something different if I need to
Links show and are clickable.
Pics do not show until the links are clicked, thus saving the eyes of small children and the more sensitive adults that might stray onto this site from somewhere more wholesome.
another cheesy 2 thumbs up for cougar, just to make sure
Well done, you all get to keep your accounts.
Oh FFS STW, what do we have to do to get a 'like' button? I have a 'P' y'know!
Alright spawn, show off
Just showing off because I know how to post pictures 🙂 [EDIT] Although not as quickly as spawn it appears...
Showing off it's new wheel trim
Great work everyone.....2 questions from me though..
1. What are the black things on the ceiling in Ambroses classroom
2.what is the brown wicker thing in the picture in the front of the car.
😁
Black things are a 4m long snake's skin (hide?) from my godfather. He was somehow involved with the University of Khartoum, Sudan. He described to me, in graphic detail how the snake was hauled from it's burrow, decapitated, flayed and the skin tanned. All for seven year old me.
The other linear object is a Knex model of DNA. What better way to enthuse pupils with the joys of genetics?
On the dashboard is a tiny hat, from Lesotho. One of my proudest moments in school was getting a dozen amazing pupils of all abilities to Lesotho and then managing the reciprocal visit. I look at that little hat daily, it reminds me of what can be possible when you try to get things done, despite the red tape, the prevarication, the paperwork, the lack of support from above, the tedium of meeting after meeting to jump through yet another tiny little hoop...
Of the twelve original participants- one is now hoping to do a Masters, one is working abroad on VSO type activities, but independent. Last heard of in Guatamala. One is officer training in the navy. Two became pregnant, one not long after leaving school at 16. One wanted to be a pilot in the RAF but delayed this to return home to help out. Another is reading Art at Uni. The others- I do not know.
That tiny little hat means a lot to me.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mokorotlo
Thanks Ambrose.
This tread just keeps giving.....
Great stuff chaps.
A big thanks to all of you that made this happen. From a silly idea to getting a sorted car to gnusmus this all grew arms and legs.
In the end I got off lightly with just a drive to halifax. chews kindness meant I didn't have to drive it the whole way. Marko efforts meant the gesture changed from a tired car with 3 month MOT to a sorted one with 12 months - mucho thanks sir. Molgrips and ambrose for helping get the car on its last leg of it journey and all of you who helped in other ways. A Big thank you to you all
Great story! 🙂
Also thanks to Mrs Grips for allowing me to send two randoms from the internet to the house when I wasn't there.
And of course Mrs Andrewh for donating the car in the first place. Lovely lady and a lovely gesture
Out. Stand. Ing.
One more pic needed...
gnusmas, gnusmobile and gnuskids all together in one shot. 🤗
We really need a cleaner in this place, the amount of dust is embarrassing!
Top work from all involved, maybe humanity can be saved....
Funny you should say that woppit. Kids still don't know we have a car. I wanted to get it back and try and work out the car seats first beforehand. Their first trip out will likely be McDonald's or somewhere like that after school for supper. And there will be more pics to follow. Along with one small addition which will be revealed.