Mystery Car Identified As Rochdale GT

Our friend 007Herbert has indentified the car below as a Rochdale GT by clicking on the link it will give you a whole load of information on it!

007Herbert is currently recovering from a knee operation, the life of espionage, and dare devil stunts is finally taking its toll on his body. Hope you get better soon!

Its a bit wet here today, so Im afraid rain is stopping play! I havnet uncovered the engine yet, and if the weather stays like this I dont think I will be. A shame, but there you go!

A few of the exhibitors have fired theirs up, but maybe they can afford to replace magneto's etc. I certainly cant.

We have also seen tractors and vintage lorries all ready leaving the show. We aim to pack the engine into the landrover around 1600 then take it back to Gillingham.

I wonder how many people will be left on site this evening, not many I reckon!

We have our little gene going around the back of the caravan, it works brilliantly and well worth the £94.00 for the 1Kva output.

Keeps our leisure battery topped up and the laptops going! I reckon I would get the shakes if I couldnt log on!

Well, nothing to report here from a damp Selwood Vintage Steam Rally, but now looking forward to our next show which is in West Bay, on the 11th and 12th of June, just outside of Bridport and right on the coast. A cracking location and a good show. Lets hope the weather is a little better!

Till later..................

New Blood Required Or These Shows Will Die Out!

This is only our second year of exhibiting out stationary engine. In that time we have met many interesting and genuine people.

But, the one thing that is very evident is that 80% of the exhibitors are over the age of 60, which then poses the question, what happens when these folk are too old to exhibit?

Take away 80% of the exhibitors and you dont have a show!

We at the ripe age of mid 40 are considered youngsters here! There are a few young lads with their dads or grandparents here, but very few, not enough to ensure that these sort of shows stay alive.

These shows are so important to our heritage, where else can you get to see these types of vehicles and stationary engines working? The answer is you cant.

We are lucky that to bring our engine its not too expensive, certainly nothing compared to bringing a vintage lorry, steam engine or tractor. None of the exhibitors are paid, so all the fuel that is used comes straight out of the exhibitors pockets.

Its an expensive hobby for some! Which is why its so important to support these shows, so if you hear of one in your area, why not go along, ok, it costs to get in, but the vast majority of the money is then handed over to local charities, which has got to be a good thing!

And whilst you are here, you are supporting our heritage and working vehicles of yesteryear. Stop and talk to the exhibitors, all of them are happy to talk about their pride and joy.

Or you could go one step further like us and actually help to save our heritage by getting involved and running an engine!

We always have great weekends, rain or shine it doesnt matter. We are here, and so should you be!

Till later............

Selwood Vintage Rally 28th - 30th May 2011 Pictures!!

Ive taken a few pictures of some of the more interesting vehicles, or so I think so!

Plus a few of our set up.

This little beauty is a Winget I like the lights!

A David Brown Tractor, looks to good to be used as a working vehicle!

Badged a Dodge, but a Commer?

Commer and a Mk1 Transit

Havent been able to find any info on this one yet!

Based on a 2CV

Triumph Tiger Cub "M" used to own one of these!

I found that the cadac cover fitted my engine perfectly!

Our set up on the rally field

This is the oil lamp I bought from ebay, cheap as chips and gives out good light!

Roast beef coming along nicely! Potatoes and Parsnips added just after

The finished product, we also cooked Yorkshire Pudding on the cadac, they turned out brilliant!

The view from the awning after eating - too stuffed to move!

So there you go, our life in a caravan on a rally field, not bad hey?

Till later...................

Selwood Vintage Rally - Saturday And An Indian Meal

We wrapped the engine up around 1500hrs yesterday, and that was it for the day due to the weather which was a bit of a shame!


So with nothing else to do (pure luxury) took advantage of the situation and had a couple of hours of kip!


Left "M" with the generator running and the laptop (note - she didn't blog)!


Anyway, once I surfaced feeling so much better, we decided that a trip into Trowbridge to find a cash point and whilst we were there we would look out for an Indian restaurant.


We managed to find a cashpoint, but the only Indian we could find looked run down and a bit dodgy, which sort of sums Trowbridge up! Sorry if you come from there, but it really did look shabby, even with some new building work.


I suppose we should of googled or is that googarrrrred restaurants in Trowbridge before we went, but we didn't, still a bit old fashioned I guess! And anyway, where is the fun in that! Better to drive around for 30 mins and do a bit of exploring!


So in the end we headed over to Bradford on Avon and found a restaurant there called the Maharaj which can be found here LINK A warm welcome, the food was fresh and well cooked, could of done with a little more meat in the dishes, but otherwise a very good meal, and very reasonable as well! Its set in what looks like an old Victorian shop, small but that does mean the place isn't packed and under staffed! So we can recommend this place if your in the area, its worth a visit.


Once back on site, we headed over to the beer tent to see what the band was like. A bloke playing piano and a lady singing, ok, not everyone's cup of tea and I'm afraid not ours either, so we stayed outside and had a pint in the warm glow of a steam engine! Had a chat with some other like minded souls, and then headed back feeling stuffed from our meal.


Had a lie in this morning, no rush to get up, and got the engine fired up around 1030. Still overcast but dry so far!


Cooked breakfast on the cadac, and later on we will be attempting to cook roast beef on it. We have roasted chicken and pork successfully so beef shouldn't be a problem. Looking forward to that later!


Our engine is running sweetly, no problems with it at all, and for something thats 60+ years old very economical on fuel! It uses around 2 litres over a 6 hour period. I don't think that is too bad.


Not many people walking around here yet today, its now 1250. Maybe they are all at lunch!?


This is our third rally of the season, the time seems to be flying by! Thats May done and dusted as well! Half way through the year all ready!


We were talking about that last night, and for those of you who are new to full timing, and not done a winter yet, hope its not too much of a shock for you when the cold starts to bite in. Not for one moment will you be cold in your caravans, but it does take some considerable effort to change water, empty loo's when you cant feel your fingers!


If we can cope then so can anyone!


Ive been off normal tea for a while now, instead I'm drinking Green Tea and my favourite being Twinings Camomile with Honey and Vanilla. Today, after breakfast I had a normal brew with milk, and it tasted revolting! Never did I ever imagine I would become hooked on herbal teas!


Must be going soft! Ill be sprinkling lavender water around next and rubbing body butter on!


If you go to their website at Twinings you can have some free samples sent to you, give it a go, I was very anti them before, if ever asked would you like a herbal tea, my response wasn't very polite! Now look at me!


Anyway, off for a cuppa


Till later.....................

Selwood Vintage Rally 28th - 30th May 2011 Saturday!

Selwood Vintage Rally 28th - 30th May 2011

We packed up on friday morning and aimed to be away just before 12, which is the time that in all the books and guides say you should be away by.

Not our fault if the people who are next on our pitch arrive a couple of hours early!

The face on the women would of curdeled milk!

So with that in mind, it was 1155 before I pulled away!

We then drove upto Selwood which is just on the outskirts of Trowbridge in Wiltshire. We arrived on site, found a large pitch to drive straight onto, and set up. We put up the small awning which makes life alot easier for us.

We are roped in under health and safety laws, and we also have to have Public Liability insurance as well. Thankfully its not expensive.

Once we were set up we then had to make the trip back to Gillingham to get the engine.

We finally made it back after doing a quick shop in Tescos (another £92.00)! you dont get alot for your money! Once unpacked, it was time for a pint!

A few pints of guiness and we headed out for a wander around the site. Not a big rally, similar to Three Okefords, which to us is just right!

However, we wandered past the beer tent, stuck our heads in, and decided that a quick half wouldnt be such a bad idea. Oh dear. They had Chedder Valley cider on and it went down rather well. It has a distinct colour, almost orange! but dont let that put you off.

We staggered back a couple of hours later, to attempt to cook on the cadac, and then stumble into bed!

Woke up during the night for a pee, and felt as if I had been mugged, pulled through a hedge, and left out in the rain. It was not good!

Its now 1445 and Im just about feeling normal!

The engine fired up straight away, but its now undercover as its started to rain. Its a shame for the show, but you cant risk ruining your engine by running it in the wet. The magneto does not like damp conditions.

We have taken another walk around the site, and there are some interesting things to see, well, only interesting if your into these sort of things I guess.

Ive taken some pictures which Ill add on later.

So thats day 1 of the show! two days left, lets hope the weather gets a bit better!

Till later...............

Selwood Vintage Rally 28th - 30th May 2011

Selwood Vintage Rally 28th - 30th May 2011

We travel to our next rally this friday, we havent been to this one before so looking forward to it.

This is our 3rd rally of the year, after taking part at Abbey Hill and Three Okefords all ready.

The time is flying by!

We our hoping to get up there for lunch time, they say you cant get in before 12 noon, but I would put money on people all ready being in and set up by the time we get there. It always happens.

I havent looked at the weather forecast yet, lets hope it stays dry. We have been lucky so far.

Im flat out with work, trying to get 50 items up for the sale starting this friday, I reckon Ill just about get there, as long as nothing goes wrong tomorrow.

We went to fat club earlier this evening, we both managed to maintain our weight. I was pleased with that as I drank quite a bit over the weekend, had a portion of chips and ate a whole cherry cake! So to maintain is nothing short of a miracle. If only they could make a no calorie cider with the same taste and alcohol content as blackthorn Id be happy!

Our last night here tomorrow, just doing a quick check and this is our 274th consecutive night in our caravan!

Everything on the van is holding up well, nothing has dropped off or broken, so Lunar build quaility is to be recommended.

Its fairly quite here on site, with just another caravan and a couple of motorhomes that seem to come and go. Mind you, we are so far apart, you dont know who is here and who isnt, we cant see another soul from where we are pitched.

"M" has gone off to bed, so Im just finishing off, another busy day tomorrow, so

Till later......................

The Ebay Nightmare Continues....

Ive been busy helping someone out with their ebay account, to say its a mess is an understatement!


His ex-employee totally ran it into the ground, not sending items out, and not refunding, the trouble is when these things happen, you have no control over what others do.


At present because there is little or no paperwork, I cant see if things have been sent out or not, so the first time I know anything about it is when a Negative feedback appears on his account!


Through no fault of his own, as he trusted his ex-employee to do the job and left him to get on with it, he is now £1000's of pounds out of pocket, and refunding like mad!


Not a good place to be in right now! Thankfully my own site house*of*jeeves is run a little better! Im afraid you always will get a muppet who leaves a neg feedback, you would of needed to of delivered their item on a silk pillow for free, to make some people happy!


So when you do start to sell alot of items, you should expect to get a couple of Negs, its a shame, all they have to do is talk to you, but no, that would be way to simple. Instead they like the power trip of leaving a neg!


I just wonder what would happen to ebay.co.uk   if ever they had any real competition? At the moment there is nothing close, all though Amazon.com for new items can often be better.


Ive tried various different auction sites, with no success at all. Ebay are the market leaders and have the generic name, but give it a few more years, and I think a new format will of been devised, and ebay Im afraid to say may well be old hat!


Ebay has certainly changed and evolved over the last few years, and not always for the better! Some times I think they change things just for the hell of it!


I also know of several dealers having problems with paypal at the moment. Paypal with holding money and causing some real dramas! All totally unnecessary as well, if only they took time to talk to their sellers who are also their customers!


This is the problem with the internet, and buying on line, yes its what earns me a crust, but it really is so sterile. 


You can do all your shopping online, buy clothes, vitamins, even a wife! Where will it all end!


Im waiting now for the bookaburial.com you are given a wristband that measures your pulse which also has a GPS transmitter in it, When you stop breathing it sends a message back to their HQ, a hearse is dispatched to your location, and off you go to your pre-chosen plot, flowers ordered, choir singing, Amen!


On that note, off to walk China dog, for real and not virtually! (just googled and there is a walkmydog.co.uk !!


Till later............


Just checked bookaburial.com is still available!!!! Should I register it?