Good Riddance to 2020

 This mask sums up my feelings:

The sooner I see that back of this year, the better.

Karen

When things never happen like you wanted
Dark nights always keep you in the shade
Some words would be better left unspoken
No joke there's a price that must be paid

New Year, new Tier

 Not quite new year.  Yet.  We’ve been moved to Tier 4, so that means the following:

If you live in a Tier 4 area, you must follow the rules below. This means that you cannot leave or be outside of the place you are living unless you have a reasonable excuse. You cannot meet other people indoors, including over the Christmas and New Year period, unless you live with them, or they are part of your support bubble. Outdoors, you can only meet one person from another household.

Thankfully, I can still travel to see my support bubble, so once Monster is back (and we know that the weather isn’t going to dump a load of snow on us) I shall make plans to escape.

Ah - my phone's ringing...  And it's Arbury.

The Monster is ready.

Back later.

Karen

I've stood alone where the mountains are blue
Watching the world's unbelievable view
A special book makes the child in us cry
Magic in words at the blink of an eye

Car Troubles – part 4a

Just had the call from Molly at Arbury.  They’ve isolated the problem – it was the main engine fan control unit that was defective (aka buggered).  So, they’ve got one coming in from their parts supplier this afternoon, so will be fitted to the Monster this afternoon, so I can pick it up today.

They plugged the computer in, and it threw lots of errors at them.  What a surprise.  I always joked that my car was plug and pray (as in plug the computer in, and pray that you get the answers!)  So, they then had the big engine fan kick in, and surprise, surprise.  The dashboard lights up like a Christmas tree with all the errors and the noises that the car plays when it throws a hissy fit.

Now comes the painful part.   £223.  But this does include all the diagnostics, removal of the error codes, removal and fitting of the defective part (as well as the part itself).  But I guess it could have been a hell of a lot worse – I suspected that it was the climate control electronics going expensively wrong.   

I know people tell me that I am nuts paying main dealer prices but it’s for this reason that I do so.  I called the dealership directly last week, and the car was booked in to be looked at today with minimum fuss, and I am treated like a valued customer – not a registration number to be gotten rid of as soon as possible.

So all I can do is wait for the phone call to sat that the little Monster is ready for collection, and then head over to collect it…. 

 

Karen

Where is the journey
No one defies
The end comes early
That’s no surprise
When it’s all over
And it’s all done
The best is waiting
And yet to come

Car Troubles – part 4

 Well, Monster is now at Arbury Peugeot – waiting to be looked at.  I will admit that I was slightly worried that it wouldn’t start due to the damned electronic issues.

But, first turn of the key, and the car started.  To say there were murmurs of relief was an understatement.  So, it was then a case of nursing the little horror into Arbury, so that their technicians could see what the hell was going on – and what was draining the battery.  I mean two batteries in 24hrs was a bit excessive… 

Once on the road, I discovered the drawback to not having the climate control on…  The windscreen started to mist up (and my hands were freezing cold as well) so it was a case of having to put the climate control on and pray.

Well, I think my guardian angel must have been listening, as the car behaved itself – no stupid warning lights (other than the engine management light on the dashboard), so it was a slightly more comfortable trip – especially as all the traffic lights were on green, and traffic was a doddle.  

Mind you – that could have been due to the time that I was travelling – 08:00 – the schools aren’t due back until next week (bug permitting) and most sensible people were still in bed.

I managed to get the little monster to Arbury, and got it booked in earlier than expected (a big thank you to Molly – she is a real star!) so all I can do now is wait and see what the verdict is….

Back when I have more info on the expensive little monster….

 

Karen

Like a broken wheel stops turning
You ain't going nowhere
Now you've got to heal that burning
Or you ain't got a prayer
Like a broken wheel

Car Troubles - part 3

I thought that today would be a good day, as Monster started this morning without any issues.  Should have guessed that it was too good to be true.

I did manage to get a few bits done, as in I managed to get my partner over to pick his car up this morning, and then sorted out a few bits of shopping - including Christmas dinner.

Instead of the usual turkey, we've opted for rib of beef.  Simply because it's not something that we have very often (once a year), and it gives us leftovers that we can use for cold cuts.

That went ok...  Until we got back to the Monster and I was just pulling out of the car park... Then PING!  The engine management light came on and I got a warning message saying "Engine fault - have the engine repaired".

So, once I'd gotten over the nasty shock (I genuinely thought that Monster was sorted out) we drove straight to the car spares store.  Who were superstars, and changed the battery.  Again.  (Albeit with several jokes that the guarantee was for 24 months, not 24 hours!)

They checked the battery, and it was holding a healthy charge, so decided to take it step by step to see what was causing the dashboard to light up like a Christmas tree.

So, I turned off the media screen, the climate control and the headlights.  Then, turned on the headlights.  Nope.  Not a flicker from the dashboard.  So, it was time to turn on the media screen.  Again, not a flicker from the dashboard.  Then it was the climate control...  Not a flicker for a couple of seconds...  

Then the warning lights kicked in when the big fan cut in.  And when it cut out?  The dashboard lights disappeared.  So, in light of this,  I now have the car booked in to Arbury next Wednesday for investigation work.

The only drawback to the damned issue was the fact that I had head back home quite a bit earlier than I was planning as my partner didn't want me to have to travel home in the pitch dark.

I didn't disagree, and headed off home, and Monster behaved well, until I got to the junction with the A45...  Then the service light and engine management light came on.

I will admit to shedding a few tears when this happened, as I was still about 10 miles from home, but Monster pulled through, and got me home.

So, as I sit at home, I freely admit that I miss my beloved partner like hell, and cannot wait to see him again on Saturday.

He's been sweet enough to say that he will drive to Darkest Warwickshire to pick me up, so that we can spend a few more days together.  And I will be taking his birthday presents up with me, as I have a horrible feeling that come January, we may well be back in lockdown.

Ah well, time to call it quits - I'm falling asleep.

Back later...

Karen

And now it’s time to cross that river

And show your feelings just before you depart

You know it’s real, you must consider

No good remaining, so hold back the tears

Don’t ever give up the fight

Danger - Mango chutney in progress

I've wanted to make Mango chutney for ages.  So, as I have some time off, I decided to make it.  And this time, I've taken photos of the process!

First, prepare the mangoes, onion, garlic, apples and peel the root ginger:

Then, in the preserving pan, dissolve the sugar in the vinegar:

Once it's dissolved, grate the root ginger into the sweetened vinegar and stir:

Then add everything else:

Then bring to the boil:

Once the mixture has begun to boil, reduce the heat and simmer for about an hour or until the liquid has evaporated and the chutney begins to thicken..

Still simmering.....

It's now been simmering for about 40 minutes...

Nearly time to jar it....

Now jared...

So all it needs to do is cool down so I can put lids on and label the chutney.

So now time to chill...

Back soon.

Karen 

Now I feel better

Thank you for the day

For the day

We'll last forever

Thank you for the day

For the day

Car Troubles - Part 2

Just when you thought it was safe to restart the Monster.... 

The battery strikes again. I went to unlock the Monster, and no response from the plip.  So several muttered curses later and it was the same as yesterday.  No click, no response from the dashboard.

So another call to the breakdown people and a mechanic was duly sent out to the Monster.

He got the car started, and then suggested that I let the car idle for about 30  / 45 minutes.  

I suggested that I gave the Monster a good run up the motorway with no stops, as that would make sure that there was a reasonable charge, and he agreed with that - provided I didn't stop or turn the car off.

My partner also sorted out a replacement battery for the Monster, in case this one is a dud.  They will have it in stock tomorrow (but fingers crossed that I don't need it)

So all I can do now is wait and see if the battery holds the charge overnight.  

Ah well, the chutney calls.

Back with photos...

Karen

The dead of night
You're saying words you can't recite
A sea of noise so empty
Get on your way
There's no excuse for the delay
Before it's just a memory

A weekend of car troubles

Not exactly the weekend that we had planned so far...  This was the weekend that we were supposed to be at Birmingham Town Hall to see Magnum on the Serpent Rings tour, but COVID-19 put paid to that.

So, we decided to say "sod it" and have a relaxing break.  Ok - Friday morning we dropped my partner's car off to the garage so they could investigate a couple of issues for him, and we still had Monster to use for the various bits and pieces (even though he doesn't like Monster (or my driving!)).

So Friday was successful in a way.  After we'd dropped his car off, we stopped off at Morrisons to pick up some shopping, then it was on to Wing Yip to get some bits and then once home, the first of the car troubles started...

The garage where my partner had left his car called, and said that they couldn't open the bonnet as the lock was inoperative.  Typical Ford problem from what we found out.  So he wasn't happy yesterday.

Today it was my turn.  We'd planned to go to Tesco to do some food shopping, then go into town for a look around.

Well, Monster decided *that* wasn't happening.  I hit the plip for the car, and the mirrors didn't unfold, nor did  the headlights come on.  Ok, strange, but possibly a dead battery in the plip.

So, I unlocked the driver's door (thank God for a physical key!) Then put the key in the ignition, and tried to start the car.  Nothing.  Not a click, and no interior light...

Ok.  Now I was worried.  But, my partner (practical man that he is) said that we should replace the battery in the plip to see if that worked.  So, one replacement battery later, and it was back to see the Monster.

Nope.  Still not having it.  So, I freely admit that I was now seriously worried. What had gone wrong with my little Monster?  But, luckily for me, I have breakdown cover, and decided to call on it.

The recovery agent came out, and he was charming, as well as being very informative.  He said that it was not a good idea to use jump leads, as this could fry the electronics on the car. (Been there with the Audi - don't want to go through that with the Monster thank you!). 

So, once he'd connected the jump starter (and shown me how / where to connect it on Monster), he asked me to turn the car into the first ignition point to see if I had power....

Yes!  So we started the Monster, checked the alternator was working ok and the battery was charging.  But, he couldn't guarantee that the car would start again, so I needed a new battery.

Great.  Now as the car is a smart ass stop start system, it costs a hell of a lot more than a normal battery.  And to add insult to injury, there are two different versions of the battery for the Monster.

Luckily for me, the local independent car spares had one of each in stock... And said if it wasn't the right one (as in it didn't fit) I could swap it for the other one.

Ok - then it came to getting it fitted...  Now I appreciated the honesty of the car spares staff - they'd never replaced a battery on a car as new as Monster, and were unwilling to risk damaging the car's ECU -  but they knew somewhere that could near by...

So, off we went.  Only this other store didn't have a battery in stock.  Damn.  But, if we supplied the battery, they would fit it.  

So, back to the car spares store for the new battery, and it was duly fitted by a really helpful and charming gentleman who didn't treat me like a dumb female when I asked questions about the battery as this is the first car I've had with this system on.

Monster is now sorted, but I still have to get the engine management light reset, so I'll call Arbury on Monday morning and see if I can drop the Monster in for their engineers to reset the system.

So, after a day like today, all we have wanted to do is chill out.  And I had planned to make some mango chutney as well as season the two carbon steel woks that we bought from Wing Yip.

That's now being done tomorrow as the weather doesn't look too good, and neither of us is really interested in shopping - especially not this close to Christmas....

Time to call it quits - I am starting to fall asleep, and don't really want to fall asleep on the setee...

Back tomorrow with photos of the chutney making...

Karen

The Moonking is waiting again

And maybe he'll welcome you in

To ride on a warm solar wind

Back where your dreams can begin

The Moonking is calling again

But never a sound to be heard

So up through a bright silver sky

Waiting but never deterred

Welcome to Tier 3 London!

That's what really annoys me,  My home area has been placed in tier 3 for COVID-19 restrictions, meaning that the following rules are in place:

 

• You cannot mix indoors, in private gardens or in most outdoor venues, except with your household or bubble
• You can meet in a group of up to six in other outdoor spaces, such as parks, beaches or countryside
• Shops, gyms and personal care services (such as hairdressing) can stay open
• Bars, pubs, cafes and restaurants must stay closed, except for delivery and takeaway
• Sports fans cannot attend events in stadiums
• Indoor entertainment venues - such as bowling alleys and cinemas - must stay closed

So, when London, parts of Essex and Hertfordshire get put into tier 3, you would have thought that the world was ending - especially the way that it was being reported by the media.  These two gems came from BBC News and Sky News respectively:

 

The director of the Theatres Trust said the London's theatres would face "disaster" under the stricter rules, while business owners in the capital said it would "be a ghost town".

 

The Confederation of British Industry warned that "thousands of jobs and livelihoods could be at risk" due to the government moving London into Tier 3.

Congratulations.  Now you know what the rest of us are having to put up with.  Why the south of England thinks that they are so unique, I have no idea.   They're not the only areas that have had these issues.  

Areas in the north of England (and my home in darkest Warwickshire) are all under these restrictions - and I think that we have gotten off lightly, as we (Warwickshire) only got placed into tier 3 the beginning of December, where as places like Newcastle have been in tier 3 since the beginning of September (if not longer!)

Ah well - rant over.  I've had enough of staring at a computer screen today.

Back when I get chance...

Karen

Man will take the treasure
Innocence is lost
Thinking he's so clever
Lines have been crossed
Man won't live forever
Shadows on the wall
Can't get it together
Sacrifice all