Soop's Special Kitcheners

I need to change my car sooner rather than later. It has gone almost round the clock and the body work is a disgrace! I won't get much for it as the clutch is now slipping. I don't want to spend money on a new clutch - far from cheap! So I will be touring the used car dealers and hope the one I've used successfully in the past will have what I want. I don't need to do long distances nowadays, so a little car that will take me round the district to see friends and do my shopping will be fine.

Good morning and belated wishes for everyone that this new year will bring good fortune, health and some happiness along with the "other stuff" we'll no doubt all come across.

My Skoda will be 6 in the spring and I'm slightly ashamed to say it isn't immaculate like the other cars described here. It slid down the drive when I dug it out of the snow the year before last, and was badly scratched as a result. Someone pinged the front wing in a car park, and I pinged the other wing in another car park. The dogs are taken to various good dog walking places in the boot of the Skoda and my walking boots and wet clothes ensure the inside of the car is never immaculate for longer than 24 hours. Still, it's a cracking car and does the job well.

I'm about to make potato cakes with ham - anyone want to join me?

soop I live in london and a blanket would not remain on the outside of a car for 5 miinutes, even in the car park of upmarket Waitrose!

I park in one of the disabled bays close to the door so I really could not walk a distance to preserve my beautiful car.

I hope that Rory enjoys his chicken. I meant to ask, have you any idea of his age?

Friends of mine who know little about cats could not believe how fast Tara can run- she is only 8, not quite on her last legs yet.

I have printed off the insurance certificates etc so I am also going to sign off also for the evening.

Oh, of course, Charleygirl you did mention the make of your new car. A very stylish model it is too. How dare someone push a trolley close to the immaculate paintwork. I think you should park well away from the rest of the crowd. How about having a blanket with you. You could drape it over the body work. Second thoughts...best not, and say you did! You have done so well to get all the paperwork and other stuff sorted. The tax - £20 - for the year... Wow! Good one!

I am logging off until tomorrow. I wish all our kitcheners a relaxing evening.

soop it is a Skoda City Go. The colour is Siver Leaf, it is immaculate inside and out and I must keep it that way. I was at Waitrose early pm and I hated to see the trolleys being pushed so close to my car with a couple of near misses.

I have transferred the insurance from my old car to this, starting on Wednesday. I have a week's free insurance which is helpful. I thought that I would have to pay extra, but no that may happen in July when my insurance is up for renewal. I only had to pay £29.99 for the transfer so that is another job done. The car tax cost me a massive £20 for the year- I could not believe it.

I am like Galen I am also one of the last of the long distance drivers doing around 3000 miles a year.

Tara does not eat much curry, spagetti with sauce or whatever, a few licks but she does like to try what I have been eating.

Galen that's fine! If there is no need to take long journeys, then that's a plus.

I feel that I should make myself useful. I shall therefore sort the laundry. After which, I may return.

Charleygirl Tara must have a cast-iron digestive system. I'm really pleased to hear that the bully cats have gone away. How awful for her to have had them on her case, so to speak. I remember that one of my son's cats had a similar problem. The bully would come into the house through the cat flap. All hell let loose on far too many occasions.
Your car sounds most interesting. Nice that it has headlights. Can you tell us the model? Colour?

loopylou What a story. OMG fancy driving with such impaired eyesight! It doesn't bear thinking about. I'm thinking that the police should have stopped him sooner...but then, if he didn't break the law, he was innocent and there was no reason to charge him. Gulp!

Yes, it is a bright, nippy, sunny day. Lovely sea. Nowhere near as choppy as it was yesterday.

My car is 4 years old and has just over 5,000 miles on the clock

Bless her soop! Bet she won't be the last person to do that! We bought an immaculate MG1100 from my parents' ancient neighbour who only ever drove it a mile in to town. The problem was he was nearly blind and the only way he could get to town was by straddling the white line.....which worked well until a traffic island was put up. He drove over it and the police very firmly said stop driving (apparently the local police had been watching him for sometime but had nothing to charge him with!)
Only time my car has a ( unrepeatable) name is when it plays up!
Weather here very low cloud and wet, good for curling up with a book!

soop excuse me but what is this sunshine that you have in your beautiful part of the country? Here, certainly in NW London it is dull, gloomy and heavy rain but at least it is not cold.

The two ginger bully boys left a few days ago and I think that Tara knows that life is almost back to normal, able to go out whenever she asks and come spring there will be no restrictions and I will be able to get rid of the litter tray until next winter. They have made her little life a misery for at least 2-3 years. She has retired to bed, having scoffed the remainder of my lunch which was spaghetti with a smoked bacon and tomato sauce. Provided it is not in her bowl she will try anything.

Rory will be looking forward to his chicken this evening no doubt.

My "new" car is a dream to drive, I found the headlights by accident. The controls are siuated close to my right knee- weird.

It was designed by a man who never shops. It is not central locking and I have to open the car door before I can the boot. I press a knob to open the boot and it locks when I close it and the car door. No doubt I will get used to it. This is my last car so I must take good care of it.

Speaking of cars...I borrowed a Humber Hawk from an elderly lady (well into her 90s) way back when I lived in Devon. She had owned the car for a VERY long time. The mileage was VERY low. She barely ever used the gears over and above second. I was driving the car along a narrow, winding lane in foggy conditions. Without warning, the car slowed right down and there was an awful smell of burning clutch. I couldn't stop because the lane was unlit. At anytime someone could have crunched into the stationary car. I coaxed the car to limp towards the nearest garage, by which time the clutch was ruined. The garage owner said that he recognised the car, as he had never seen it drive beyond a certain point along the road... The lady was very sweet and confessed that she thought something wasn't quite right but, as she had no need to journey beyond the local shop, she thought, ah well...keep going!

Saturday afternoon on a bright and perfectly still day in bonnie Kintyre. Hello dear kitcheners, I hope that you are also seeing the .

Agus I had a Mitsubishi and his name was Monty. I had a Mini and her name was Mo. There were many others, but I cannot now recall their names. One does grow very attached to a car that has "served well" and not broken down (too often.)

Congratulations Charleygirl. I'm delighted for you. Safe travels. It is essential to take good care of the family motor. MacS always cleans our car inside and out whenever it needs to visit the garage. He maintains that it gives a good impression. Too right!

Nellie and Purpledaffodil There are times when I break out in a cold sweat. We have this computer and no other tablet or whatever...that would be asking too much of our tech skills. We each have a fairly ancient cell phone. MacS hardly ever uses his. We have come to the conclusion that we are "so last century"

Well done Nellie, I had a similar fright a few weeks ago when all 22,000 of my photos on iPhoto disappeared. Frantic searching found them in the trash can! Small GS now has a separate user account on my iMac complete with password he can manage, so he can log himself on and off. I won't risk losing all my photos again.

I have just rescued myself from a potentially terrible computer cock up.

I thought I had saved a blank excel spreadsheet over the top of the one with my passwords etc for websites, without which I would be completely stuffed.

I eventually found it intact and I have now saved a master copy to another folder. Total panic was setting in. I just about still have enough computer nouse to manage it.
A minor celebration needed.

Sorry Agus but I have never named any car that I have owned. I can barely remember the number plate. I know that this sounds stupid but I was nearly in tears having to part with this 12 year old car.

What a relief Charleygirl. Well done, plus a price you were happy with into the bargain.

Now, if you are anything like me, what have you called her?

I know, off my rocker, but I do become very attached to my cars.

*number" Tara my cat would love that ornament. The little blighter would swipe it over and smash it. That is her favourite occupation.

I sold my old car today, very painlessly and for a good price at "webuyanycar.com". I spent a fiver yesterday getting it washed so that it looked its best and I am glad that I bothered. I was told that I had looked after it well and that the paper work was in immaculate order. I dread to think what he does look at if my car was in excellent condition being 12 years old. That is such a load off my mind- I can now enjoy my "new" car.

Call Preference Service (or whatever it's called) has no effect.
My elderly parents were so frightened by cold calls and silent calls they went ex-directory, yet still get them!
Ho hum!
Wonderful pink sunset tonight and beautiful silver moon, must be even more spectacular seen from Rory's special viewing point.....

number You've made me smile. Tara will need to be introduced to the new addition. I did show Rory a photo of himself. He put on that all too familiar haughty-look...as if to say...hmph, not one of my best.
He's sitting so patiently just a few paces away. Yes! It must be nearing his tea time. The minute I log off, he'll sprint towards the kitchen. He's such a dear.

Bye for now. I shall call in tomorrow. Keep warm.

Phew! loopylou If it isn't - "your computer is in need of attention"...or something connected with double-glazing or insulation or market research, I'm absolutely FED UP to the gunnels with cold callers.
We went through an entire of month receiving a daily call for someone who most certainly didn't live here. The caller had an American accent. No matter how polite or dismayed I sounded, he continued to call. It was a case of "number withheld." I imagine that an elderly person, living alone, might have found the caller's persistence somewhat alarming.

Strip the Willow! That brings back memories, not such great ones, of country dancing lessons at school, in the 50s. I wasn`t very good at the dancing, but for some strange reason, I excelled at Strip the Willow!
Yes Soop, we get those calls several times a week, they work on the assumption that sooner or later they`ll hit on someone who HAS had a nasty accident. Don`t worry about being rude to them, they`re a pain in the proverbial.
I took delivery of a beautiful ginger cat ornament this morning, 12" long, looks very realistic, couldn`t resist the email from Amazon about it. Mia keeps looking thoughtfully at it!

I bet it's wonderful having an ever changing scenery, would love to live by the coast and especially in such a wonderful place!
Re:phone calls claiming have had a car accident, I get one nearly every day at about 11.30 am, have tried being polite, less polite and downright rude to no avail- even saying I'll report them to Oftel hasn't worked!
ANY ideas very welcome!

loopylou It's pleasant to watch from the cosy confines of our home. Being on it is another matter.

Have any of our Kitcheners been contacted on the phone by someone claiming that we have had a car accident...and...? We've had two such calls. I was rather rude, I'm embarrassed to say. Blimey O'Reilly, whatever will they think of next!

'Lively sea' soop.....so that's what you call it! I go but definitely not with envy just thinking of it
Last of the landlubbers me.........

The sun has put in an appearance. The sea remains very lively, but the ferry is continuing to go back and forth to Islay.