My Cortina RIP

Still sorting through several thousand old photographic negatives and came across this one.

This was my 1972 MkIII Ford Cortina, bought second-hand in 1985 for a mere £250 when I was working at my first college, the Nautical College in Fleetwood.

The photograph was taken shortly after I bought the car, which had been resprayed in these colours which were then current Ford colours. The colour scheme made the car unique and everyone who knew me would pip their horn and wave as we passed them.

We'd park it somewhere and come back to find notes under the windscreen saying "Hello John, missed you but found the car!"

It was one of the best cars I've ever had. Even MOT mechanics would drool over it whilst tapping the sills energetically to see if they caved in.

It was a trifle under-powered though as it was the 1300cc basic model and sadly this contributed to it being written off in a collision some three years later.

WFV 970K RIP

A Quick Catch-Up

This remains the last time I saw my car. (See Ouch! My Car!!!)

We haven't got it back yet from the body shop as the last estimate for it being ready, before we went away, was 31 August. I've not had chance to get in touch with the body shop yet so I don't know whether it will return triumphantly or not tomorrow.

The other guy's insurance have been paying for a hire car for me, so a conservative estimate for his little prang so far will be at least £1000 GBP.

There are 312 photos from the holiday so you just sit tight and they (not all obviously!) will appear bit by bit here or at Flickr.

We are off to see actresses Caroline Munro and Martine Beswick at a film festival in Manchester today so there'll be a few from that too!

Oh and we really do know we are back home - it's raining!

Ouch! My Car!!!

We were sitting in the living room, recovering after the workmen who were doing the central heating had left.

The cats were settling down after going a little berserk at the burning smell from the soldering of copper piping.

Then; BANG! I looked up to see the car which was parked outside the house judder. Someone had misjudged the corner (though only by a lot...) and driven into it.

I did my cool, calm, collected bit - it had happened, no point in making any fuss. And the driver was quite shocked anyway - must have thought he'd pass through it or something...

Ah well... his insurance seemed quite ok. Am I allowed a little grrrrrr! though?