Hmm where to start? Well you remember the noise from my car? Well the garage suspected a leak of power steering fluid from somewhere but it was all so mucky they could not see where from, so they steam cleaned the engine and surrounding bits.
It was all quiet at first, but after a couple of days I noticed oily patches on the drive and then the noise started coming back. I booked it in and they set to work. they could now see where the leak was - a hose had split! The power steering motor and pump are tucked in under and behind everything so it was a bugger to get at and fit the new hose. It was all sorted by Friday. Just in time to go to the body shop this week to get the tailgate and rear bumper fixed!
Last week, on Tuesday, John and I went to see Fairport Convention on their winter tour at Chichester. Lovely theatre and a great show. We managed a brief chat with the 'boys' afterwards too. We saw a few familiar faces in the audience too as they are doing different venues on this tour and we were all spread around trying to find the easiest/nearest venue to see them. We usually saw them in either Yeovil or Salisbury as these were the closest venues to us. Neither were on this tour so we had a choice of Exeter, Weston Super Mare, Farnham, or Chichester! As Chichester is motorway and dual carriageway all the way we decided that was the easiest drive. It took about the same time as going to Yeovil so not a problem.
I took my car to the body shop Monday, with the nice man from Enterprise collecting me and taking me to the car hire base. I saw a few silver cars lined up and wondered what I would get. I'd booked an automatic estate/hatchback and was a little taken aback to get given a bright red Seat Leon. Yes hatchback, yes automatic but red?? I have a 'thing' about red cars and never want to own one. I am changing my opinion LOL The Leon is not the perfect car. The pillars make visibility a bit of a problem and the speedometer is bad. It starts at 6 o'clock position on dial and steering wheel centre block conceals the speedo below 40 mph. Not good! I have lowered the sreering column a bit and can now just about see the 30mph mark - oh yes they only mark every 20 mph with numbers - 20, 40, 60, 80. So usual limits of 30, 50 and 70 are not labelled on the dial! I am still wrestling with all the little control buttons on the stalks but I've sussed the radio tuning and volume controls, got the lights and indicators sorted too.
It's an automatic, deisel engine and when you take your foot off the accelerator you get engine breaking, which I do not get on my petrol engine automatic. So my driving style is altering slowly. It means a lot less brake wear so that is a good feature, but it means you have to keep the gas on instead.
I have collected the boys from school the last couple of days and they liked the more sporty appearance of the car compared to my wagon. I must admit it pootles around town quite nicely, yet is very responsive on the open road. Acceleration is impressive when needed (or just fancied LOL). Jen suggested when the time comes to change cars I should make a short list and hire each one for a day or 2 to try out on a lengthy road test to check good and bad points. Might be a good idea.
Honey has been doing really well lately and obviously feels no pain or discomfort from her scaffolding. She is booked in for Tuesday next week to have it x-rayed and hopefully have the metal work removed. She is leaping around at home and managing the stairs just fine. I think we are both getting fed up with lead walks all the time, but about a month of it to go after the metal is out, and then she can start running free again. She has been getting regular massages from me and Jenny and loves them. As she walks most of the time with barely a limp I am sure she will soon be fully rehabilitated once the frame is off. It will take a while for the bones to seal over and get fully strong again but a month was the estimate for physio and exercise to get her fit again.
I can't wait to see her run free again and get back to enjoying life fully.
My knee has been very up and down this last week. Some days I have not wanted to move as every change of position caused pain and walking about was agony. Then days like today when I am barely aware of any pain at all. Maybe it's the weather?
I do hope you have avoided the nasty bugs still doing the rounds. Some of my friends have been missing out on good evenings out at folk clubs etc because they have been poorly. All I have had all winter is one 3 day snuffly cold - my antibodies are tough strong things and I've survived pretty unscathed. Mind you I have put off going to the doc about my knees to avoid the coughing and sneezing of flu or cold virus carriers.
Have a good week my friends and stay safe!
xx
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