Another set of warning lights

Great.  Just what I *didn't* need to get.  Coming home last night, I got a "ping" from the car, then the dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree, and the dreaded "Engine fault - have vehicle repaired" message came up.

I know there is a recall on the Monster (hell, the car is booked in for Thursday morning) but this is now starting to get annoying.  I need a car that is reliable, and much as I love the Monster, it's becoming a nuisance.

If this is another problem, I may well have to start looking for a replacement car.  Which, with the current lock-down is not really viable as I need to test drive the new 208, to see if I like it...  And if I don't?

I've got no idea what to look for.  

Ah well, I'll have to see if the battery is dead this morning, and if it is...  Then Peugeot can fix the issue at their own expense.

Back later (when I have checked the Monster)

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

Recall on the Monster

Not the sort of letter that I really wanted to receive – especially on a Friday afternoon.  An envelope from Peugeot with the words “THIS IS NOT A CIRCULAR – SAFETY RECALL INFORMATION”

Great.  Now what’s gone wrong?  So, I open the envelope, and the following was revealed….

As part of our quality monitoring programme, we have identified that your vehicle requires a software update to prevent a potential reduction or loss of braking assistance.  This software update will improve the diagnosis capabilities of the braking assistance system.  This will prevent any risk of reduction or loss of braking assistance.

Your vehicle is equipped with a three cylinder 1.2 Puretech petrol engine, recognised for its dynamic performance as well as for its low fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions.  To improve the efficiency of the internal engine components, this engine is fitted with a timing belt, which operates inside the engine lubricated by the engine oil.  If your annual mileage is greater than 9,000 miles and your usual trips are shorter than 6 miles, we recommend arduous service intervals which include replacing the timing belt very 62,500 miles or after 6 years, to help ensure the reliability and durability of the engine.  Combined with using the recommended engine oils, adhering to the servicing intervals and refraining from adding other products (e.g. additives) to the engine oil, will ensure the durability of the timing belt.

This safety recall consists of updating the software and a check of the condition of the brake vacuum pump and the timing belt.

This precautionary work is considered essential and will of course be completed free of charge.

Please contact your chosen dealer, quoting safety recall code xxx, who will be able to book an appointment to carry out the safety recall and give you further information if required.

So, the little monster is booked in for the work – the only charge to me will be the sanitizer (nuclear warfare for bugs) – a whole £4.75.  I don’t mind that at all – and cannot fault my dealership for the service that they have given.  They gave me the first slot (at a time and date that suited me) so that I can drop the little monster off and let the engineers work their magic. 

Time to call this quits – I’m being summoned for dinner.

Back when I get chance.

 

Karen

Hold on, there’s a new way a-coming
Looks like it’s arriving tonight
There’s no more hiding or running
There’s no more walking on ice

Listening to Podcasts

 Something that I have gotten into whilst I have been in lockdown.  Podcasts.  Not the sort of thing that I would usually do, as I find most podcasts a waste of time (and space on my phone).  

However, on the recommendation of a friend, I downloaded a podcast called Black Box Down.  This is a pair of amateur plane enthusiasts discussing some well known (and not so well known) air crashes – ones such as the Concorde crash, and the British Airways flight that crashed just short of the runway at Heathrow, as well as crashes such as the so-called "Gimli Glider".

I know that I've seen quite a few of these investigations on Nat Geo - Air Crash Investigation - but this is an interesting take on the investigations.

I've also been listening to quite a gentle series - Paws and Claws.  This is an interview series fronted by Bill Turnbull, and he's talking to various people in the news (and celebrities such as Johnny Vaughn) about their pets.

It's really funny (and touching) and you can tell that Bill is a trained journalist - the questions are not boring and he manages to extract funny little anecdotes from his guests about their pets.

Ah well - time to call this quits.  Another podcast is calling...  And this one promises to be a real cracker...  Power the Maxwells...

Back when I get finished with my podcasts...

Karen

There's a chill wind at your back door
And the fire cracks on the damp floor
You hear footsteps but you're not sure
On a storyteller's night

 

Snow

Not something that I really wanted to see this morning...

Snow joke.

Karen

Hold on, there's a new way a-coming

Looks like it's arriving tonight

There's no more hiding or running

There's no more walking on ice

National lockdown

BoJo has spoken.  National lockdown.  To be honest, reading the information about it (see National lockdown guidance) it's no different to being in Tier 4 - unless you're school age or at university. Then it's on line learning unless your degree requires practical elements.

Because of this, masks are compulsory, and people are starting to find different versions to express their personal style... And I am no different - this is one of my masks....

It's from a company called Smmash X-Wear.  Yes, I admit it's not cheap, but at least I can breathe in it, and don't feel like I am suffocating.

I don't like wearing a mask.  It's uncomfortable (and hot) but if it reduces the risk of me catching (and more to the point passing on) this damned virus, I will continue to wear one.

But until people start taking this damned virus seriously, we're going to be bouncing from lockdown to lockdown.  

And I am getting slightly fed up with the idiots who refuse to wear a mask and adhere to the restrictions.  

Before people start blasting me, I am fully aware that there are people with valid reasons for not wearing a mask.  I understand that.  My gripe is with the selfish idiots who refuse wear any mask - reusable or disposable.

Ah well, time to call it quits.  My kindle is calling me.

Back whenever...

Karen

Now the villain, he may prosper

And the thief might do as well

With amusement, their crimes they dispel

The promises they've broken

And the hearts they have betrayed

End to end they are carefully laid