Not for the first time has this been a significant date for me. [As the avid reader would know] In 1986 I turned out for our local college XV for a scratch Rugby game (on a Sunday that was much warmer than it is in 2010 I recall!) only to paralyse myself in a clumsyContinue reading “History”
Category Archives: Preparation
Getting tight on the build
We’re still waiting for the tail-lift, but I’ve been over to OEC to see it progressing. Paul is waiting for some solenoids to arrive to operate locking-pins to secure the lift in it’s various positions (to take the strain off the hydraulics when the lift is stationary). Even on it’s work-stand it looks a workContinue reading “Getting tight on the build”
Visas
I’ve spent an ‘irritating’ day researching visa requirements (or at least updating the info I already had collated). Current thinking is that most visas can be obtained at borders. Ethiopia remains a challenge if going north due to it expiring 3 months from date of issue (unless it’s a work visa). I’ll post the ExcelContinue reading “Visas”
Finishing touches
Dropped the Azalai off at OEC today to get the finishing touches completed. Everyone is optimistic we’ll get there before Christmas, but the manufacturers of the solenoids (to operate the tail-lift locking-pins) have consistently reneged on promised delivery dates over the last few weeks. Anyway, regardless everything else can happen: Uprated headlamp bulbs (the Defender’sContinue reading “Finishing touches”
Tail-lift snag
OEC kindly dropped Paula back to us this morning sporting a few enhancements. The headlamp bulbs have been uprated, a shovel has been mounted on (Rachel’s!) wing, the seat heating has been replaced and the tail-lift hydraulics are in place. So we are all set for the rest of the winter. However the tail-lift isn’tContinue reading “Tail-lift snag”
Planning update
As we go into the New Year poignantly we can anticipate the end of our yet to be embarked trip! We will be back by this time next year, and that’s a reminder of how little time there is left to get things together. Paul Gowen from the RAC has been in touch recommending weContinue reading “Planning update”
Jabs
Really proud of Rachel today as she womanfully faced her longstanding needle phobia at the Travel Health Consultancy in Exeter. Of course she has little choice in undertaking this trip as the list of jabs is quite onerous (though necessary). To be fair she was already in the van en route before she asked “SoContinue reading “Jabs”
Breakdown on the M5
So we were driving the Defender up today for our much looked forwards to Driver Training with Land Rover at Eastnor, but didn’t even get quite as far as Somerset before it lost power and we had to pull over onto the hard shoulder. Initially I thought it was a problem with the fuel lineContinue reading “Breakdown on the M5”
There’s always snags
As the avid follower will know we didn’t have the best of days yesterday. The Defender broke down on the way to Driver Training with LR at Eastnor and needs some main dealer TLC to sort out what appears to be an Engine Management System gremlin (the irony made us laugh though) and then whenContinue reading “There’s always snags”
Breakdown update
Roger Young Ltd have established that the Azalai’s problem is not the Engine Management System (which is reassuring) – rather it is an electrical short somewhere which is blowing a fuse every time the engine tries to run. The symptoms to [the rare] EMS problem were the same as it presented, but it’s more likelyContinue reading “Breakdown update”