It has been a good long while since the last blog post and there's a good reason why... LIFE!
Yep, the daily goings-on have taken over and as such I have had no spare time to do anything with the Jag, nevermind having the money to do anything with it anyway. Such is the lot of a Classic Car owner who also happens to be a poor student!
On a positive note though she does have a place to stay off the mean streets of Edinburgh, and now lives on my Dad's driveway in Dunipace near Stirling. This move became a necessity as the tax expired in March but it has been a blessing. The drive there was accomplished with no bother at all. Everything worked. Air-con, radio clock, lights, kickdown, all gears. Everything! All was well apart from the battery shenanigans which have now been largely resolved now thanks to a donated OEM battery from a sister 3.2 Sport (which is currently waiting either restoration or stripping for spares up at Mulsanne Motors if anyone is up for it - though I bagsy the wheels!). I must admit that it felt good to be back behind the wheel. Mind you, the brakes were still crap...
After a month on my Dad's driveway though it was time for an MOT. I'm afraid to say that the Jag failed on a broken coil spring, and poor handbrake. The warped discs and huge hole in the backbox didn't appear to be a concern though. As a result, she has lain dormant on the driveway save for the occasional firing up and jaunt around the cul-de-sac. My Dad enjoys the old thing so is willing to stump up some cash so that he can use it properly while I work my bahookie off.
Speaking of working, as you know I'm a full-time student. I work on the eCar project one full day a week, and I work evenings from the half 4 to 8. When I'm not doing all that I'm on the 'SS Explorer' restoring and promoting her. My only other free time is enjoyed with my Wife and my Stepson. At some point I also sleep! It is a lot of work for lots of rewards, but not a lot of pay - hence the stalled restoration on H9 WAP. However, things are about to change...
My college course and the internship for the eCar Project are coming to an end. I had considered staying on at the college as a student and moving into an HND Engineering course, but had been put off by the debt this would put me in. Having spent many, many years clearing tens of thousands of pounds of it, I don't want to go back there. Happily, another option has come up which should see me in a full-time role at the college as the Administrator for the eCar project! This would see me in a £15k a year job until Christmas at least, which added to my wages from the Council should give me the disposable cash I need to get the Jag to a perfect condition. In addition to that, my Dad has come out of retirement to take on a new job at his old place of work so he will have money spare too. The upshot of this is that the Beastie will have a lot of work done over the next few months and I fully expect her to be back on the road where she belongs in no time, with ALL the wee problems sorted.
So, watch this space for the return of the grace and pace!
