We are not meant to have too much fun

But someone has a sense of humor over our absolute need to do things right before we can really progress.
See the problem - lead back to the carby is off

The VW gift wouldn't get me home from the CLC the other day - its only about 700metres and over a little hill . Sounded very much like valve burn out as number 3 plug lead removal made no difference to its half dying rattle .
Eventually we did a compression test; it confirmed what i knew - she was pretty worn .
However the great thing was that all four had nearly 100 on - so no valve burn .After resetting the valves ( which were a little too close ) i found the fault
That silly looking advance lead had broken .

36 years of faithful service, and it just broke . Oh how pleased i was i had learnt not to push it as we did on the old Combi camping trip over 30years ago on our trip home from Adelaide - parked out back of the farm (thanks to church folk for some respite) while an engineering firm in Mt Gambier welded those brilliant but sensitive heads .
VW owners beware - they are a simple motor, but check that timing centre straight away if she's not pulling right!

Scrapheap fun with Bottom Gear

Just in case you haven't seen it - ABC 2 at 6:30 - must see . Sparks more than a few enjoyable competitions and rusty metal creations - even here in Australia

The gift

Now to the wonderful surprise that was is the convertible . Hilter may have meant it for revenge but by the grace of God He gave me another one that wasn't rusty .-As i said to one of the richest men in my home town ( who like most says " where did you get that beauty " )
I can only describe it as a gift ,I said to him , cause thats how i got it . Even more amazing than all the offers I get to buy it over summer , the joy it gives the young and the romantic , the sense of freshness and being alive that it gives to its passengers .........is this testimony of grace .
What a wonderful thing it is to see one very tangible enjoyable thing you have and be reminded that absolutey everything you have is a gift . What a wonderful freedom it gives you , grieving and grumbling, as we do, over things taken from us or never got; to realise its all grace .
When we catch ourselves in a momet of mental illness accumulating like those around us, mere stuff ; as if we can take it with us - or as if it adds anything at all to our sense of satisfaction .
A little vision into the bigger mysteries of life "Blessed are the poor ( who know they are poor ) for theirs is the kingdom..."
And isn't it wonderful

Beyond planned obsolescence- keeping you out of your own car

There's absolutely nothing wrong with my old Volvo's - except you can't get into them .
This is a door handle - what's left of it . The alloy handle is only attached properly on one end so the stress fractures start, and the whole thing gives up quite early in the life of the car .
Modern manufacturers can't let the car rust like those famous 1960 Ford Falcons, but they can and do test door handles so that they break ( or fail) after 800 or so uses . Its true--- we used to have a old 1961 Chev Belair with 4 or 5 linkages to wear over a short time; then bingo --you just couldn't get in - . Is that what car engineers do all day Moo?
There's absolutely nothing wrong with my old Volvo's - except you can't get into them . The oldest has one of 5 doors accesible the other only 3 of 5 ( just) , so the easiest way is to climb in through the back door or get jimmy to do it . Barbie is not interested
You think this is funny, you try and look cool when you have to reach across the centre from the back door to get in .
Why don't I buy a new or even secondhand handle? - even the used ones were $150 with new well about $200 a pop . Good cars --well designed to make you update every few years . Top gear - just a bit old !