I almost forgot to Update You On My Moggy

Oh yes, I have been so busy recently with the Alrewas Radio and other things going in the Arts Festival that I almost forgot about the Moggy! So I was just popping home to see how progress was going on the chicken run on the last day of the radio when I was presented by the postman with 2 brown envolopes printed with a return address of "Morris Minor Owner's Club." I can't explain the excitment, it was so intense.

So I opened them up to find the July/ August issue with my membership certificate and membership card which now takes pride of place over my driving liscense (yes that's right) in my wallet! So the last installment of the moggy tale was that I had been granted the access to it. However it was in Yorkshire with 4 flat tyres, no MOT and a dead battery.

So now, it is still in Yorkshire. Still 4 flat tyres, still a dead battery and still not roadworthy. However, now that is the only issue stopping me driving it. Over the past few days I have been able to get hold of a tow-car (I couldn't use my gran's Land Rover because she ruined it driving to Devon) and also a trailer, with a winch and a massive amount of straps and ropes to get it back. I have also spoken to the garage down to road and they said that I would be able to drop it off and then get it all fixed and sparkling, just like when it came out of the factory 44 years ago.

Proudly displaying my Moggy Owner's Club sticker on the back window and wih my Minor Matters Magazines (yes that is really what they call the official owner's magazine) in hand I am feeling ever more confident about actually having a car to drive which I can afford to run, repair and insure! Not only that but it is a classic. There is npo denying that it is the ford mondeo estate of it's day, but it is still elagant and incredibly fun to drive. Call me old-fashioned, but the classic cars are the best, adn this is certainly one of the best all-round classic motors you can get, at a reasonable price and availability.

However I do find it slightly sadistic of the insurance companies to give me a qoute of £4,000 for a 2003 ford fiesta with an actual safety-rated with seatbelts already fitted, whereas I can get a 44 year old death-trap on wheels that will not do the speed limit even if the road is 300 miles long, straight and downhill no matter how hard you will it to insured for £985.64! The fact of the matter is, I am pleased that it has turned out that way as I get to drive the best car in the world. Well the best that I can afford, which admitably is limited, but nonetheless.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/peachy146 @peachy146

PROJECT MINOR (Part 1): Official Morris Minor Owners Club Member!

I am pleased to announce that I am now an official member of the Morris Minor Owner's Club of Great Britain, now that I am officially the owner of a lovely 1968 Morris Minor Traveller, navy blue, a dead battery, 4 flat tyres, and seized engine, a leaky roof...

Still I am very much looking forward to the project of doing it up and will keep you well and truly updated with how it is going. Now the first thing is getting it back from North Yorkshire, with the seized engine and the 4 flat tyres.

Nonetheless, first thing tomorrow I am off down the garage to try and scab and trailer in exchange for my car to fix and make happy again. Genuinly can't wait to get in it and drive round the UK in my Moggy!

Twitter: @peachy146

Thanks!

Morris Minor Traveller... With Me Driving It!

So some may have knowledge at my lament about car insurance, but just to re-iterate, to insure my Ford Fiesta Ghia 2003 model, even with a black box to monitor my speed, cornering braking, wee stops and farting habits, it was going to cost me £4,000. No I did not add an extra nought for effect!

So when we went to my great uncle's farm in North Yorkshire at Easter this year and I fell in love with his 1968 Morris Minor Traveller, I decided I would get a quote from Footman James, the insurers recommended by the Morris Minor Owner's Club. So on Wednesday morning I rang them up and I got a quote. 

With me as the main driver, with my Mum and Dad as named drivers, the nice lady on the other end of the phone promptly took 5 minutes to find the class of the Moggy as well as another 5 minutes to explain a load of random stuff about premium interest and different colours the certificate could be printed on, she finally got round to telling me the price. And yes maybe I did scream a little bit like she had just told me I won the lottery, but there it was. £985.64! 

The only trouble was, I didn't actually have this car. So off my Dad went up to Yorkshire. And back he came with a handful of Minor Matters magasines from my uncle, as well as the good news that the car was available, but with a new set of wheels, a new battery and an MOT at best, not even taking into account the cost of getting it to run.

Now whatever, I want to be an accountant so I am kind of anal about the numbers, but the £2,000 I save on the insure, I can spend on an absolutely fantastic little machine, with a heart of steel and a backside of wooden framing. I can't express my love for this car, made even fonder knowing the price of the insurance. What a fantastic motor to be cruising around the south Derbyshire lanes and what's more, it even has a enough room in the boot for my Saxophone!