Lawn mowing

Hi folks! How are you enjoying the good weather? Very nice isn't it? Only one problem: doesn't the grass grow fast?
Speaking of grass and having to cut it every week or so I'll let Ray tell you about his new lawn mower purchase:

Hi, Ray here. How do you like the blog? That Brian is clever old boy methinks. Anyway (OK so I write just like Brian!) bought myself a posh new lawn mower last week. I'll tell you about it. It's a FlymoPac a Mow, bright orange. I've only used it once but it seems OK. The handle folds in half and then back over the body. This is done flipping open four quick release thingies. Then the grass box fits over the front end and it stands up in the shape of an oblong box. Quite good. It has a see though panel to see when the grass box is full. That's OK but a bit of a gimmick really. Suitable for medium size gardens. My lawn is about 100' long, mainly grass and the mower is well sufficient. It would be too big for anything smaller, I feel. Anyway if you are interested have a look at the full spec.
I first saw it in Homebase at about £90. Then Tesco online at about £50 (loads of Nectar points) but it was out of stock!!
Eventually bought it through Amazon for arbout £52 including delivery.
I can highly recommend this mower and from my previous experiences with this brand should last a good 5 years or more. Cheers and happy mowing, I'll pass you back to Brian.
Yes it's me again, old Beetle bod! Lucky I don't have any chores like that. Oh, by the way, if you order that mower through Amazon could you go in via the shareworld site, please. (http://www.shareworld.co.uk/)
Click on the Amazon link down the left hand side. This will take you onto Amazon on the Books section. Then just search for lawnmowers in the usual way. Ray will earn a couple of quid which hopefully he will spend on ME, yay!

Visitors to blog

I recently mentioned the last nine vistors to my blog only because the nine, in order, had come from such geographically diverse places.
But Max has contributed a couple of comments (thanks, Max) and, I think, would like his country, Uruguay, tobe given a mention. Also he told me that the VW Beetle (like me) is known as Fusca, in Uruguay.
I have heard myself being referred to as something very similar (and not very kindly) in the past, especially when I am being awkward and not starting properly.
So here are the last nine posts. And don't expect me to keep doing this, although the people from Statcounter.com have a nice map of the world with pins showing you where your visitors to your particular website come from. I am pleased to report that the map of my blog is completely covered with pins. (except Iceland, oh and New Zealand, come on Kiwis, you must have heard of a Beetle).
By the way, the visitor from Germany was searching for Beetle breeding (dirty bugger!). Hah, BUG-ger, geddit? Oh well, suit yourselves.
UK
Sonora, Hermosillo, Mexico
Uruguay
Montivieo, Uruguay
UK
Montevideo
Murska, Sobota, Slovenia
England
Niederschsen, Garbsen, Germany

By the way, Max, 13% of my total visitors (1797) have come from Uruguay. (or were they all you?!)

MOT time again (oh, what fun!)

Where did that year go? Yes it's that worrying time again: MOT time. Always a worry for the boys, and that's with any of their vehicles, not just me.
Ray got up early Tuesday morning just in case my battery needed charging. I thought I would give him a treat and start first time, after all he was putting himself out for me and he does so want me back on the road again.
Anyway we drove down to Uncle Jim at Wallhouse as he has arranged for his mate to go over me (ooh, careful Missus!).
Well it made a nice change to get out and about again and I made sure I was on my best behaviour, driving as smoothly as I could and not cutting out too much at the lights. Dave and Ray dropped me off and left my keys at Wallhouse. Jim would be along later to take over.
Of course the boys weren't there to see all the action but I was given a thorough once over to find anything where time had once again taken its toll.
Not a bad result, I suppose for a chap of my vintage: Windscreen wipers not working properly: JIIIMMM!! (who fitted them?!).
Bit of wear in the old front joints (steering whatsits) and, and, what else was it?
Oh yes. Horn not working. JIIIIIMM!! Surely if you fix the wire on one year it should still be fixed on the following year!
Anyways I am being fixed good and proper as I speak/write so I will report back sometime around the weekend.

Oh, nearly forgot: Ray was fascinated by the last nine posts to the blog. In strict order these were the places the nine vistors came from (in about two days). Are you sure???
I do hope you visit again, even if you came by mistake. What were you looking for?

England, London
Argentina
Kyonggi-do, Seoul, Korea
California, Oakland
Illinois, Woodstock
Maharashtra, Thane, India
Hokkaido, Sapporo, Japan
Galati, Galati, Romania
Maharashtra, Mumbai, India

Top secret

TOP SECRET

Hi all! Not that anyone will read this, because it is TOP SECRET!
See, it is labelled such at the top and also in the title!

Oh, I am just bored, sitting up here in Orpington watching the world go by. Thought I would get you lot going by calling this post top secret.

Hold on! I am not even watching the world go by; I am facing the other way!!

Ray has parked me facing the garage doors with my bum facing the world.

Anyway he, at last, got into my driver's seat last night and put the key in my lock..... and turned it........nothing! Ha Ha! That will teach you for not looking after me. What did he expect. Yes I know the usual credulity; "I turned the key ONCE and he started up immediately". Well not this time, Buddy!
Come on you lot, help me out. Leave a witty, interesting, whatever comment on my blog; I need cheering up.

New Blog, by us lot!

Just quickly to tell you about our, well Ray's, new blog, Smallchange. He wants to change the world to a better place (LOL). http://helpchangeit.blogspot.com/
Watch out Barack Obama!!

Don't forget, he's doing it for you younger peeps; he's an old codger.

Handmade Jewelery

This is a strange one: I was looking over my old posts and came across one that had received a comment from Handmade Jewelry. Well not so much a comment rather a request; could they have my 'phone number? Well I have been told you have to be careful about who you give personal details to over the internet because you don't know the real identity of the correspondent. They might be trying to "groom"me!
Tell me a bit about yourself. I assume you are a vehicle of some sort or other, or maybe not. Do you sell jewelery? I know Ray's wife likes a pearl necklace; yes, I have looked at your site!
I have no partner, whatever at the moment, there are not many of my breed left and aren't they all male? The new Beetle is a bit girly, but they are all a bit young for me. And as for a different breed, I think you would say "make" or "model", I wouldn't fancy someone with their engine in the front. Weird! That would be like you humans having your........no I had better not go there.
Anyway, Handbag, why not write another comment or try your "hand" at my questions.

Secret of success

Happy New Year my two-legged friends and all my four-wheeled ones (especially Beetles). Have you seen the New New Beetle yet? Gives me the creeps. Why? Well the New Beetle seemed a reasonable idea, a retro style (on me) with brand new technology underneath. Ok, so it's a bit of a girlie car but I think it's not bad. But now VW have designed a New New Beetle by moving away, I think, from my original styling. What do you all think.
I am glad to note that some readers have commented on my blog and appear to like it. Some have said it is COOL and how do I do it.
COOL that's a good one. Maybe we should say Aircool, or Coolair. Oh, no that's already been taken.
It's all down to experience and age , my dears. You know I was born in 1969 (YES, cars are born) so that makes me almost 40 years old (Yes, I did that without a calculator!). You learn a lot in 40 years travelling all over the place. Not so much now, alas, I am still stuck at Dave's Grandmother's house. What relationship would she have been to me? Auntie? Dunno, that's too difficult to work out and I am not sure anyone has attempted it before!
You are a dull lot, you know. I keep posing a few questions on the blog and I don't get any answers (I would have expected a few wrong ones at least from you lot). Why is it? Are you all shy? Or just lead too "busy" lives to be bothered with me?
Anyway, another picture of me. WHAT ARE those two things either side of me!!? One thing for certain is I bet they are still not around, like me.
So, OK, questions: Where was the picture taken (not many clues, I know) and what (who) are the other two cars? Yes, I do know the answers.

More old photos

Hi Guys, hope you had a good Chistmas. Happy New Year!

I am currently resting. Dave has got the old dog, I mean the Rover taxed and insured and is driving him/her about for the winter. I am resting up at his Grandma's house and keeping a look out for Ray while the house is being sold (fat chance of that during this recession).

Anyway Ray & Pat were tidying up the house and came across some old pictures of me in my youth.

This is the first one. It was taken in Cornwall, somewhere near Bodmin, I believe. Sometime in the 1980's.

Anyone recognise the building?

Hornchurch Cardrome

I overhead Ray talking to one of his work colleagues today about the Hornchurch cardrome. His friend's wife was thinking of learning to drive and Ray started reminiscing about the cardrome. To be honest I am not sure I have ever been there. But I must have done because Ray's wife Pat learnt to drive me yonks ago. Anyway if it is till there and I think it is, it's worth a visit. As I say it is in Hornchurch, Essex, England. Basically it is a circuit of roadways on 12 acres of private land. Slightly smaller than the real thing but the roads are two-way. There are traffic lights and junctions and even a hill where you can practice hill-starts. You take your own car there although they do have their own vehicles you can book. You pay your money at the barrier and you can be there for as long as you like. The driver can be any age (I believe) and Ray took his daughter Holly when she was about fourteen. It is excellent for beginners to get some practice before they go on the public highway and even for someone who is having professional tuition as fill-in practice. The last time Ray went there was about five years ago, so check to see if it is still going. Then it was about £5-6 an hour (the website says £12 entrance). Of course your car will be uninsured and you go at your own risk. It can get a bit busy but you just wait a bit if it is and the cars only go max about 30 mph and you can clearly see everyone else who is on the circuit. Mind you when Ray was there last someone did bump someone up the rear.
Just found the websitehttp://www.cardrome.net/

New Investment Forum on Shareworld

Phew! Those boys. Yes, Ray and Dave. As if they didn't have enough to do. They have started a new forum on their investment website http://www.shareworld.co.uk
Ok, I know. Ray is the only person to have posted so far. That boy has so much knowledge about the Uk stock market (and US) I cannot understand why none of you haven't taken advantage of the Forum. I know you do ask quite a few questions on the Q & A section, but I think the forum is such a good idea. If I was even slightly interested I would post a topic myself Now let me think. Investment Strategy for a VW Beetle (semi-retired)

Beetle Insurance

Hi all. I did promise a while back that I would tell you about car insurance. In particular insuring a Beetle like myself under a vintage/veteran motor policy. Ray insured me sometime ago for less than £100 with Performance Direct. Anyway that time of year has come around again when I need to be insured. Dave is going to insure the Rover mainly because he paid so much for the repairs to it earlier this year.
Ray suggested that they insure me under his name with Dave as named driver. Ray got a quote this morning for about £121. Fully comp, but as Dave only got his full licence just over a year ago the final premium came out at £130. This is limited to 3000 miles a year and a nominal value of £1000. I think the excess is £300. There is no NCB involved in this type of policy.
Most of you Beetle owners with 5 year full licence, no endorsements etc. should be able to get a premum well under £100. (Between you and me, Ray has got a DR and an SP endorsement!)
So the boys would thoroughly recommend Performance Direct for your Beetle insurance.

Home made heater pipes

I notice there have been a few searches for home made heater pipes, where the original equipment is missing. Or in my case nicked!! There are some pics. of my pipes somewhere way back in the blog but they may be hard to find. Yes, I know, you have to read all through my blog, which is difficult for you humans with your strange brains. So here they are again;

Update of sorts

Well firstly, I think apologies are in order. OK I know I write this blog but the boys do have a bit to do with the input. So, sorry for all you peeps who have visited the blog recently and found.........nothing new! Not to say things haven't been happening. Would you believe the boys spent about £600 on the Rover (no its a car not a dog...well it's a bit of a dog) for head skim, gaskets, brakes, MOT etc. instead of on ME! Well they did actually spend money on me. A couple of weeks ago I was being very stroppy, I don't know why, perhaps the British weather, although you would think I had got used to that by now, mainly being out in the open, night and day, in all weather, even SNOW, do you remember that? for all of my life. Lucky us Beetles are 'Ard!
So I was running badly (deliberately, ha ha), wouldn't let them put me into gear easily, stalling at the lights, making my wheels wobble occasionally etc. Well, I needed some attention! Eventually the boys got really fed up with me and Ray suggested Dave take me back to Jim at Wallhouse http://wallhouseautos.net/ (more about the website later). A couple of days later and with a new steering box I was behaving myself much much better. Good old Jim! As I understand it, from whispered conversations I have picked up between Ray & Dave, the plan is to take me off the road for a bit and get me smartened up (for Christmas?). The Rover is now roadworthy and just needs tax (TAX, what's that, LOL) and insurance. They will probably get me insured through Performance Direct under a limited mileage, vintage car policy like they did before. That costs about £100 or could be even less. I will try and get more details from the boys for the next post as I am sure you Beetles (if any of you have access to the internet) would like to pass the info on to your masters.
So, I mentioned the Wallhouse website. At the moment it is just for contact purposes but Dave is going to organise a good website for Jim so keep your eyes open for that.
OK, I'm off now; got to concentrate on the road and keep an eye on Dave's driving. God knows what he'll be like in the Rover without me there!

Dave's away

Dave went off to Paris Saturday morning as a birthday treat for his girlfriend Alison so Ray and I decided to do a few repairs. Ray collected me on Friday night and Saturday morning I took him to Volkspares to buy the spark plugs (see previous post).
The old spark plugs were removed reasonably easily and although they didn't look too bad I think the gap had changed. I say not too bad but one of them hadn't been tightened enough and was sooty black all over. After fiddling with the mixture control and tickover speed I was stiil not right and I wouldn't go into gear properly/easily. Ray cleaned the contacts in the gear lever and the contacts on the servo. The problem appeared to be solved and the clutch was moving in & out at the required movement on the gear lever. However driving me back to Dave's Sunday night my gears were very difficult to select again.
My two wipers are now fully functional although I am not hoping for rain!
Ray attempted to sort out the noisy speedo but with no luck. He had the bright idea of contacting Moby on the Volkszone forum and Moby kindly gave him instructions how to fix it. The boys will have a go at this and hopefully take some pictures to post in case anyone else has the same problem.

Inflatio, what inflation?

Hi guys, hope you (and cars) are all well.
Me and Ray (OK, Ray and I) just got back from my local Volkspares with some plugs and a wiper blade for me.
Ray had a £10 note and plastic.
"Four plugs for a Beetle. please"
Out from the back came four Bosch WBAC (Super!). Ray wondered if it was the £10 note or the plastic that would be required.
"Oh, and have you got a wiper blade?"
"Eleven & a half inch?" He asked , producing some bubble wrapped non-descripts!
"I don't want them 'one fits all' type they never seem to work properly"
" I've got Bosch ones", he said diving out the back and producing Bosch T1 (Plus Super!,even)"
By now Ray had forgotten all about the tenner and was trying to remember his PIN.
After a couple of minutes playing the EPOS our friendly parts man said: "Ten pounds and a penny, please".
Ray picked himself up and gave him the tenner.
So if you want to do an Anthony Newley and "stop the world. I want to get off". -buy a Beetle!
Cheers all.

Oil for Type 1 Beetle

I see a lot of questions on Google about the type of engine oil to be used in old (careful!) Beetles. The boys tend to use Morris Straight 30 but now have started using a reasonable quality 20-40. When Ray used me as his primary transport some 28 years ago he tended to buy Duckhams 20-40 and this doesn't seem to have done me any harm. I know the oil is important in keeping me cool (in the temperature sense) but when I was first built there weren't all these fancy new oils about. I think it was a choice of Duckhams or Castrol (XL?) so I am sure you don't need to spend lot of extra money on the fancy brands. After all, oil is oil.
Note I am talking about in the UK here, I don,t know about any of them exotic locations. I have only been to France and I suppose Gertmany where I was born.

Heating, how to get rid

Hi humans! How are you faring? What with all this talk of recession in America, house prices crashing, inflation soaring. The only thing that affects me is the high oil and petrol prices. I only do about thirty to the gallon at the best of times and I must confess I am running just a wee bit under par so I dread to think how much I am costing to run. Still if you want the best cars...... I tend to cut out when I come to rest which is annoying David a little, not much because he seems to like me so much he doesn't complain. Although Ray keeps telling him to take me down to see Jim at Wallhouse Motors for a quick tune up. As he says these things don't get better only worse. I think Dave has a lot on his mind what with the Shareworld website going great guns. Have a look at the new features. http://www.shareworld.co.uk
He has also started another website trying to impart his knowledge gained through three years of Shareworld to others. He likes learning and improving himself all the time. Have a look over to the links on the right, under Website Design & Promotion, if you can drag yourself away from my Blog!
So, I am afraid there is not much to say about myself, apart from the fact that the boys spent a lot of time last winter getting my heating system working. Do you remember all that palaver with those flexy aluminium hoses? Anyway every time I took the pair of them on a reasonably long trip they sweated like proverbial pigs. Mind you they brought back some French Brie from Paxton & Whitfield in Jermyn Street, near StJames's (yes this is a plug, if you haven't been there and you like cheese, go!)and what with the heat in the car, the Brie got really runny and delicious by the time they got home (about twenty miles). I digress, as usual. Anyway after a few months of British summer (?) Ray insisted they try and do something about the heat. One of the heater controls had been fixed open with a plastic tie so that was cut free and the other one......well, the other one actually worked!! So once again the boys are surprised to see that things still work, if only they had faith! Cool, as they say.

Old versus New

You lot won't believe this. Well you probably will being gullible humans. Anyway, I have had my fanbelt on about 10 years. I can remember Ray putting a new one on many years ago. Whilst in the garage it was noticed that there was a cut , quite deep in the fanbelt, so it seemed prudent to replace it with a new one.
Me and Dave were driving along the night before when there was a clanking noise in my derriere or whatever the German is for bum and the gen. light came on. Lo and behold the belt had shredded!! Ray came to the rescue in the Pol.... (can't say that word) brandishing a pair of women's tights (are there men's tights?) which he proceeded to fasten around my pulleys much to the delight of the local constabulary who had parked up in the layby for their supper. Anyway the tights got me home although I was getting pretty hot and bothered by the time I got to Barnehurst and Dave fitted a new belt next day from Volkspares.

The Engine Shop Ltd

Ray was looking around the internet this morning (for promotional gifts for the Shareworld website http://www.shareworld.co.uk/ (if you are interested in stocks & shares). Anyway someone had searched this blog for "the engine shop erith". The blog came up 11th out of 19000. Reading a few of the other results, as you do, Ray was surprised to find, at first position the website of TES (The Engine Shop) in Erith, Kent. (England for you lot who live abroad)

http://www.theengineshop.info/acatalog/index.html

So this is the second VW Beetle related business in Erith we have recently found and knew nothing about. The other was Coolair. I wonder how many more hidden treasures there are in this area?
I know you lot don't like "going public" but how about letting me or the boys know what else is around in Kent, Beetle related of course!

Microgiant

After my visit to Microgiant in Rayleigh, Essex the smile hasn't gone from Dave's face. He got really fidgety whilst I was away and apparently really missed me. (I bet that was because he had to drive his mum's Rover 214). Anyway Tim at Microgiant has done an excellent job and the boys had a long chat with him about Beetles and campers etc.
He has organised with Pirtex to get some ATF hoses made up and I will make sure Ray gets some more posts up whwen thy're done.